Replies to This Discussion

PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Kieran Ray on December 30, 2011 at 16:53

Not underpricing jobs, the client ends up as the only winner.

And research materials better if I havent used them before.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Matt Brown on December 30, 2011 at 17:16

I will not be plodding through this year like the last one. This coming year I'll be hunting for new work fresh opertunities with more income. And I'll be starting the spring with some new equipment hopefully with less breakdowns and increased efficiency.

Kieran Ray said:

Not underpricing jobs, the client ends up as the only winner.

And research materials better if I havent used them before.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by GORDON on December 30, 2011 at 17:27

Engaging new customers at the beginning of the year in anticipation of a natural drop off.  Only to find out that I have taken on more than I lose and spend the whole year overstretched but adjust and cope. (work longer and harder)

 I do the same trick every year which is creating an unsustainable compound effect.

 Must learn not to be so greedy.

• ▶ Reply

PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Brian www.mibservices.co.uk on December 30, 2011 at 17:52

LMAO

jp grass roots said:

not dressing up for charity ...itll be on the web for years !!

www.mibservices.co.uk said:

Whats yours JP ?

• ▶ Reply

PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Andrew @ The Outsidedge on December 31, 2011 at 0:48

Major priority is to be on top of my invoicing and book keeping at all times. After spending 3 days sorting out receipts and various bank statements, and not writting down important details, I am vowing never to allow myself to get in this position again. 

To keep an eye on overheads and the cost ratio for each job.

To aquire new clients. Lost clients through house moves, death and cut backs. I guess I was complacement and took my eye off the ball thinking enquiries would come through by themselves. I will more proactive this year re advertising.

Clear the shed of the six defunt lawn mowers.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Busy Bee Garden Services Limited on December 31, 2011 at 8:30

Customers ride on mowers are not ours to fix for them when they let their kids ride them around their gardens.

Tougher on staff who choose to be sick on a monthly basis.

Spend less on advertising/marketing and cut back on capital investments.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Michael Withall on December 31, 2011 at 11:10

Chris: I really agree with your point number 3.!!!! I will how ever be continuing to quote for patios as it is a service offered and one I enjoy supplying. Back to the ridiculous pricing of others - about six weeks ago i was approached by a guy who had paving laid in August.... the job was done in half a day...need i say more...he saw me laying front pathways in Epsom, Surrey and could not believe the groundwork and preparation we put into the sub-base etc. It is quite common for a client to get a quote which specifies a job that is going to be cheap, so when a professional advises a deeper dig out (which immediately increases waste), granular compacted sub bases, better edging solutions, a better quality of material etc. the client sees a huge price difference and sees us as highway men (not all clients - some realise that you get what you pay for!) I found however that by making a Patio installation case study (simply take many pictures at every stage of one particular patio job) make into a case study and apply notes to the pros and cons of the different techniques and methods that can be adapted. Then find poorly installed patios/pathways/driveways take photos and again annotate the reasons for the sinkage/movement. But it really is annoying the misjudgement some people have when it comes to cost when you are asked to quote for a patio and you get there and the client is asking for patios, paths, walls, steps and anything else they throw into the quote just out of curiosity to see how much it will cost, you then spend time preparing a quote, once emailed over some don't even reply to acknowledge they received the quoted - they are the ones who have had the really cheap quote and like i said before it makes any professional looking to make a living a highway man!!  Don't give up Chris, only quote recommendation patios etc!

Chris Auld said:

1. Took too much work on during spring/summer and just didn't have the time to do it all, ended up having to reschedule and even cancel a few jobs which could potentially damage my reputation.

2. Didn't take any time off at all during the summer and ended up being overworked and exhausted by August. Next yeart i'll take a few days off mid summer to recover.

3. Spent far too much time preparing quotes for hard landscaping jobs that the client just couldn't/didn't want to pay for. From now on i am no longer doing  patios as im constantly being undercut by people who must just be laying the flags right onto the soil without any sub base whatsoever, or they are just working for free.

4. Travelling too far to look at jobs. FRom now on, unless the enquiry is from a recommendation i will be keeping work much more local to save time and fuel costs. Last summer i spent far too many evenings driving 15+ miles and taking valuable time to quote for jobs that were not even worth doing.

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page