I bid a good size remodel job several weeks ago. I provided references and encouraged the prospective client to contact them. ONe week after our only face to face meeting I followed up with an e-mail thanking him for our meeting and encouraged him further to check with my references. Last night I recieved an e-mail thanking me for my patience and that I was one of two being considered for the job. I know for a fact that he has not contacted my references and have no idea what criteria are being used to make his decision. He has told me he’ll have his decision b thhe end of the week. It seems to me part of an informed decision would be checking references. Should I pester him again about checking my references or let it ride and sit and wait patiently (or impatiently)????
In the mean time I have been waiting to hear
Replies
Does anybody ever offer references that won't be glowing?
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
of course my references will be glowing but I explained that they were the last three jobs that I did( not three carefully picked out of the list.) But your point is well taken.
I had someone ask for references yesterday and thought the same thing.
Far as I know, everybody who's wanting to hire somebody wants a reference, but from somebody they know. When you're well enough established for that to provide all your business, life is easy.
The mention of reverse referrals isn't insignificant. I've asked, when I didn't know who recommended me. The process goes both ways. Cold phone calls from someone who couldn't/wouldn't tell me where they got my number, but wanted to hire me, are disquieting.
I went through a period of that with a succession of "interior designers". Always asked them for a referral. Not that I expected to find anybody who hadn't been paid promptly, but wanted to learn how the individual conducted business. And occasionally got so "busy" that I didn't have any time.
Clearly, anybody advertising for work has a different perspective. I never did, was fortunate enough to be able to chose my work.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Many people are reluctant to contact references, not wanting to put them on the spot, and not knowing how to talk to them.
I'm actually on the other end of this issue. I'm the one sitting there waiting for the estimates to come in. I get random phone calls telling me "we're almost done with the numbers", "Here's your price" stuff like that.
When I ask for it all in writing with reference.... nothing. No call backs and nothing in written.
My thought is this, like someone else said, does anyone ever give out references that people have had problems with? I'm skeptical of references because of this. However, I do have brace b's so I don't have a problem calling/knocking on the door to find out how the job went etc. I think the people you are dealing with just don't put much faith in the references.
Thanks
Barney
Respond to his email, thanking him for keeping you advised, and tell them again that you want to do the work. 2-3 sentences. keeps your name in front of them.
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I have just hired a contractor to do a mid sized exterior job around my house. He gave me a list of references, and there are also some on his web site. I did not choose him based on any of these because, as another poster said, I only expect to hear how great he is from these hand selected folks. Plus, all I needed to know was that he had done enough good work to actually have a client base of happy people to point to. Nuff said.
I selected him because we had a good rapport, he listend to me so that the bid included everything I asked for so there was no misunderstanding, and his price was reasonable. I don't think you need to worry about this guy selecting you if those elements are in place in your bid. Good luck - I hope you get it.
~ Rosa
I definitely see your point and I concede to it.
Lucky for me i have worked on most streets so i can point out which houses i worked on , Sometimes if i sense an attitude when they ask for References i offer to exchange references. Most of my customers would not relish the idea of strangers calling them, However i always tell them there free to call ANY lumber yard and ask about me.
Isn't it rather more likely that he is waiting for the other guy's price? That's what it sounds like to me, or maybe he has the other guy's price, it's lower than yours, and he is entering the final negotiations with him. Just in case that goes wrong he is stringing you along as a fallback position.
Checking references is irrelevant to a lot of people out there if your's isn't the lowest bid.
John
badarse,
You failed to control the close..
In controlling the close you don't count on others to sell your product or your bid to sell your product.. you control it..
That's a whole chapter in and of itself..
It's the real art of selling..
There are a dozen legitimate reasons why he's delaying you.. You could be his prefered vender or you could be someone he's keeping in reserve waiting for the more prefered vender..
It could be something completely out of your control like some anticipated money not coming in or unexpected costs forcing the delay or something situational or dozens of other valid reasons..
Never ever give anything away without getting something back.. when you gave him the list of referances you should have left it open ended. If I don't hear from you by Friday should I call you? When's the best time?
Right now any contact with him could be cause for resentment untill it's too late.. Oh I've been meaning to call you Jones got the job.. Sorry, click buzzzzz........
OR I'll let you know if I'm going to pursue this further etc.. Now you really are on the outside..
Frankly it's time for you to learn how to sell.. In the past with the strong building economy you didn't have to what you were doing was good enough.. right now those who can sell will survive those who can't will wither.
What Frenchy said, but it's a little late for that. I'd get on with other things. If you get the job, good. If not, that's business. But if you call again you'll appear desparate for the job, which pretty much guarantees you won't get it. You left the ball in his court. Lesson learned - time to move on.--------------------------------------------------------
Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.netSee some of my work at AWorkOfWood.com
mesage to all, not sure how to reply to all
I am in a similar situation right now. I put in a bid for a basement finish,1200 sq ft with surround sound and projection tv sedt up. I e-mailed the quote, as they wanted to start first of april. After a couple of days, i e-mailed again, askking if they had any questions. they called back, said they were going to use me, lets meet to finalize the drawings for the permits. Day of the meeting, I called to find out what time, they called back and said the wife was sick, they will call me on the weekend. No call, I'm wondering if the wife didn't want to use me, and the husvband had jumped the gun.
So I'm in the same boat, do I call again, or is the job gone already?
S
stemreno,
I'll tell you what I said earlier,, you've lost control of the sale.. never give out anything without something in return..
I'll send you a copy of the quote, when shall I contact you for your decision? Is sort of the minimum..
Or on the quote, I will follow up in person/via phone etc.// on such and such a day!
But a quote is a lousy sales tool.. it can't answer most questions,, it's simply a number to compare. Not a method to complete a transaction.. You're trying to sell your work like Penny's sells a pair of socks,, here's the price shop and compare..
I never really looked at it that way, but that makes sense.
My wife used to be a very succesful sales person, and tought sales and closings, etc. Should get her to sell me....
stemreno,
Sales is a really brutal business, your success is translated into money your failure you deal with however you can..
Certain basic rules should always be followed, but they way they are followed is the art of the skill..
Learn the basics, then learn to read body language and a persons eyes and you'll do better than 90%
I'm sure that you pay a great deal of attention to things like spelling, grammar, and punctuation when sending an email or other written correspondence to clients. But just on the off chance that you sometimes slip into the sloppy informal as you do here on the forum, that could account for not hearing back. No one expects great prose from their contractors, but some attention to detail is required.
excellent points. I have definitely been thinking about the need to firm up my business skills now that I'm actually need to be competative. Thanks!
Or at least spell it.
What is wanted is not the will to believe, but the will to find out, which is the exact opposite. --Bertrand Russell