Electrical Estimating.

I don't do domestic precisely because it's a cut throat market inhabited by people willing to quote pennies, do a bodge job and then find lots of 'extra' charges that they tactically omitted from the quote.

I do from time to time get asked to inspect and sort out jobs done by these sorts and then it invariably costs even more but I do have a good success rate of convincing the bodger they should contribute to the remedial costs.


Most of my clients know that if they want a detailed quote I have to allow for the worst case, longest time I consider the job might reasonably take and I have to include the cost of quoting and cover the costs of any quotes I don't get.

I simply provide an absolute maximum quote and tell them that if it all goes to plan I'll charge less.  I typically invoice 70 to 80% of what I quoted.  The word soon goes round.


But my answer to the OP question is G:

I highlight the things I'm offering to do that they are unlikely to get from others and remind them to carefully check they are comparing like for like, they never are. 

I also remind them to ask for the qualifications and experience of the person who will actually do the job.  Strangely customers seem to feel it's rude to ask this!

If they are the sort of customer looking for the lowest price I know I'll never get the work but then I've never been short of work so why should I work for them?


I have sometimes said I will match any lower quote PLUS 25%.  That gets a surprised reaction but also gets the job more often than not.



Decide what YOU are worth and don't devalue yourself.

I don't do domestic precisely because it's a cut throat market inhabited by people willing to quote pennies, do a bodge job and then find lots of 'extra' charges that they tactically omitted from the quote.

I do from time to time get asked to inspect and sort out jobs done by these sorts and then it invariably costs even more but I do have a good success rate of convincing the bodger they should contribute to the remedial costs.


Most of my clients know that if they want a detailed quote I have to allow for the worst case, longest time I consider the job might reasonably take and I have to include the cost of quoting and cover the costs of any quotes I don't get.

I simply provide an absolute maximum quote and tell them that if it all goes to plan I'll charge less.  I typically invoice 70 to 80% of what I quoted.  The word soon goes round.


But my answer to the OP question is G:

I highlight the things I'm offering to do that they are unlikely to get from others and remind them to carefully check they are comparing like for like, they never are. 

I also remind them to ask for the qualifications and experience of the person who will actually do the job.  Strangely customers seem to feel it's rude to ask this!

If they are the sort of customer looking for the lowest price I know I'll never get the work but then I've never been short of work so why should I work for them?


I have sometimes said I will match any lower quote PLUS 25%.  That gets a surprised reaction but also gets the job more often than not.



Decide what YOU are worth and don't devalue yourself.