[Smurf]

Bloody ivy 

Went to quote a house last week to clear the guttering and clean their conservatory roof.
Could just about see into the guttering whilst doing a guttercam survey at the front....grrrr.
Anyway gave a silly price to also cut back the ivy before clearing the gutters and thought no more of it.
Today I get in and there is a message saying that they would like to go ahead with all the works.

I just can't seem to put people off no matter how hard I try 

[Smurf]

I've still not phoned them back. Do you think I should?
 I don't really want the job as going to be a PITA of a job to do no matter what I get for it.

I think I going to be honest in future and just tell people outright to find someone else.

[Stoots]

We all get ourselves into these situations I'm sure.


I have one booked for Thursday. I agreed to do some pressure washing. Truth is I underpriced  it and I really can't be arsed could be doing more lucrative work. Only problem is she's on the same street as my regular customers and I was recommended to her so can't really let her down.

Also did some fsg yesterday that I had accidentally promised someone weeks ago and regretted straight away. Again she was right between regular custys so I couldn't avoid her. Was cursing the entire time yesterday just a really awkward job that took too long and gave me a bad neck.

I have a real problem saying no

[nathankaye]

We all get ourselves into these situations I'm sure.


I have one booked for Thursday. I agreed to do some pressure washing. Truth is I underpriced  it and I really can't be arsed could be doing more lucrative work. Only problem is she's on the same street as my regular customers and I was recommended to her so can't really let her down.

Also did some fsg yesterday that I had accidentally promised someone weeks ago and regretted straight away. Again she was right between regular custys so I couldn't avoid her. Was cursing the entire time yesterday just a really awkward job that took too long and gave me a bad neck.

I have a real problem saying no

If saying no is a problem, perhaps learn to price more accordingly and then it wont be such a ball ache to do, especially if your good reputation is at stake.

I took over my friends window round when he moved, but a round i helped in on for yrs, so i knew them well. My friend had these customers since he was 17 and now hes late 30's and they were his first custies, so he kept his prices low ish for them. A customer asked me for a fascia clean and expected same price as before (understandably as i used to do them with the friend), but i had to expalin that its my work now, so even tho window price is same (drastic price change in a yrs time for em all!) Any additional work is my prices not the other chaps, hes gone now. She disputed at first, till i pointed out shes had same price for over ten yrs and it needs changing!!  I got the price and message across (in a nice way) and so a win win

[Smurf]

Adam if I’m honest I really still don't like turning work away either and have screwed up on pricing more often than I care to mention too.

I've taken on jobs that I've really struggled on and/or hated doing too. You know the ones when you say to yourself "Oh yes that is going to be quick & easy job to do." Then in reality turns out to be a real pig and takes a lot longer than expected.

If I don't really want to take a job on I up the price in hoping they say no and find someone else. On the job in question I quoted £400 to trim back the ivy, clear out the gutters and clean conservatory roof.

Obviously in this case was not high enough to put them off. 

[Smurf]

I've just been going through the survey vid of that job.

Pic 1 - Back look easy don't it. It's just a straight forward gutter clear even though a bit of a narrow gap.
Then clean the conservatory roof no probs with access for next door to do one side... No probs

Pic 2 - Oh crap whilst on the quote I did not see all those broken bits of mortar above the conservatory roof.
How the hell am I going to get to that lot removed without the risk of damaging conservatory roof below?

To top it off there seems to be more broken bits of mortar futher up on the roof too right accross the full length. I think that's my get out card as need the roofer back in to clear up the mess he left up there whilst reparing the ridge... Bloody cowboys  

[Smurf]

Quick update chaps. Now they are going to get a roofer in to sort out the roof first and also get rid of all the blown mortar too...Result 

[nathankaye]

Quick update chaps. Now they are going to get a roofer in to sort out the roof first and also get rid of all the blown mortar too...Result 

You missed a trick smurf,, you should try get commision from roofer 

[Smurf]

I might get a drink out of it still as they want me to recommend a roofer and I happen to know just the right firm for the job