I talked to a potential client, before Christmas, about doing a survey of his deceased father's estate. He said he would get back to me, after the holidays and I haven't heard anything yet.
What do you do in cases like this?
TIA
Radar
All of the proposals I send out are placed in a "tickle" file for follow-up in the following weeks. A conversation can be as easy as
"Hi! Hope you had a great (holiday, birthday, vacation, past few weeks, etc.). I was going over some stuff laying on my desk and noticed that we hadn't made contact in the past few weeks. Looking back on the proposal we sent you, did you have a any questions that we could answer for you? Are you still going forward with the project? Was another surveyor engaged on this project?"
Minding any ethical concerns, if another surveyor was contracted with, you could certainly ask about the other surveyors' project scope and fee proposal. At this point your not trying to supplant him if he's already engaged on the project. A simple bid tabulation type question can be useful for future bidding or pricing.
Given the current business climate, few proposals stay in the tickle file for more than a week to 10-days.
Mike
Most estates have several family members involved in making decisions.
When first contacted about an estate, being cordial and as helpful as possible goes a very long way. They have many questions and being professional and knowledgeable and advising them honestly is what they are asking for.
Some families take longer to decide on what to do than others.
I have learned that they may take months or years to get back to me.
> Some families take longer to decide on what to do than others.
>
> I have learned that they may take months or years to get back to me.
That's what I am afraid of.
Oh well, I think he liked me and will probably call me back, when he's ready.
Doug
give him a hi howdy do, grease the wheel, or some lowballer will sneak in..tdd
> > Some families take longer to decide on what to do than others.
> >
> > I have learned that they may take months or years to get back to me.
>
> That's what I am afraid of.
>
> Oh well, I think he liked me and will probably call me back, when he's ready.
>
> Doug
Tdd is actually giving good advice. Give him a friendly call/email/letter, something.:-)
I can't think of any down-side to giving them a call. If they got somebody else, you can toss it and stop thinking about it. Lots of times, they're just procrastinating and a phone call will get the thing moving. Try not to sound desperate for the work though (not that you are).
Bug the ca-rap out of him. What usually works pretty good is a letter similar to this:
Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now? Should I start that survey now?
That'll get his attention.....;-)