Well what did you expect?

I'm not a business owner, but I suspect she has no idea of what goes into a survey. Of course, she's influenced by what her first husband payed for the lot in town to be surveyed. Why not offer her a breakdown of what your services include? When I go in to get an estimate on a car repair, they normally give me a list of items that go into the cost. It makes the shock of the estimate more tolerable.

Why even ask what they expected to pay??ÿ Have they ever had a sudden change of heart and decide to hire you??ÿ I have not been on this end of the business yet but I think I'd be inclined to just walk away.?ÿ Also, when you're on the phone with these people do you ever say something like "There's a good chance this might cost 2K+..." to save yourself a trip out there for nothing?

It has been my practice to be insufferably polite and
as far as the breakdown in costs goes, if I get to the
point of actually preparing a written estimate I
provide a detailed scope. This was a fishing
expedition with more than a fair amount of abject
ignorance.?ÿ 

Why ask what they expected to pay??ÿ Why not! I have always done that and always will......if I am afforded the opportunity during the discussion. Of course it cannot be forced but I often find the chance to ask.?ÿ

Have they ever hired me? Some have, provided they don't have any previous experiences that can bias their decision.

BSTRAND, I do not visit many sites before a estimate. I always give them some idea of the likely cost............Isn't that just basic procedures?

I mean good lord nowhere in my rant did I mention that I took a trip to the site. I would go broke if I did that.

Percieved value...  consumers can see the fence, can't see what goes into a survey.

I think it's reasonalbe to ask what their expectation is. Gives you a sense of what potential customers are thinking and perhaps give an indication of the level of education you'll need to give them on what they get for the price.

I had an older gentleman who wanted half of a 5 acre lot he'd bought in 1973 split in half during my first summer in business back in 2005. I worked up an estimate for him an called him, leaving a message on his answering machine. He called back and wanted to meet on site and since the site was 2 miles away on my way home I told him I'd meet him to discuss what he wanted done. When I got there he started right off with "how can you justify that cost for a 2.5 acre tract" which kind of caught me off guard, I thought if we were meeting after I had given him my price we had the job and were just hammering out the details. He told me he'd only paid $750 to have it surveyed the first time. I stood there listening to his b.s. for a few minutes before shushing him to ask a question. He'd already said he just retired and was selling the 2.5 acres so he didn't have to mow it, so I asked him "You said you just retired right? Were you making the same in 73 as when you quit in 2004?" He stared at me a few seconds before saying he guessed I was right, everything goes up over time and hired me to perform the work.

I actually had the same situation a long time ago. Held firm on my price and the property owner kept calling every couple weeks to see how to lower the price. I finally gave up, and adjusted my price up $8,000. "WHAT The heck!!!! ?" I asked him how much he would sue me for if I was wrong...... The cost of his fence. I didn't get the job and glad for it. I almost asked what he did for a living, and that I'd like his services for for 10 cents on the dollar.

I think this post theme clearly follows the 20/80 rule, which holds true regardless of what professional services being offering whereby 20% of your clients or prospects are going to account for 80% of your wasted time and headaches. The key being to qualify and identify that 20% and pass them on to your competition.?ÿ