There's nothing wrong with underbidding . . .
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> But, if underbidding means you've been given someone else's price and then use that price to determine your price in order to give a lower price to take that job from another surveyor . . . that's so wrong.
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Now wait a just a minute.
My clients know that my fee structure is below par. And for that very reason I have a strong following, it's a business model that I have followed for a long time.
"It's so wrong" ?? that I know that the other surveyors charge $250 for a particular service and I charge $185 and that the client gives me the work instead of the other guy? I don't follow your logic.
There's nothing wrong with underbidding . . .
Nothing wrong with that, but that's not what your initial post looks to describe.
I couldn't care less if you want to even bid jobs for less than it costs to actually do the job.
President Clinton once said "it all depends on what the meaning of is . . . is.
So be it.
I assumed(we all know what "ass-u-me" means), that you were given another surveyors price, the simply said you'd do it cheaper. Which I think is all wrong . . . almost like knowing bids for a contract and being in position to screw all the other bidders who had to put thought and consideration for their business before they let out a bid, by simply finding out what they bid and reducing the price enough to get the job.
Your last reply leads me think that you didn't so much as underbid another surveyor's bid, but only that your cheap.
BTW . . . I can remember many times in about 30 years when a few calls a day would have been appreciated . . . and I remember . . . long ago, having to actually borrow money for gas to get to a job-site.
There's nothing wrong with underbidding . . .
even so - what if the realtor called me and said they had a quote from another surveyor to do a mortgage survey for $250 and could I do it for less?
Am I bad guy to say, "sure I can"
by UNDERBIDDING . . . or bidding low
I get subjected to price shopping frequently. I have been told what the other guys have said. I set my price and don't move. The other guy can have it. B-)
You are being played.....
The caller is price shopping, IF there actually was another surveyor quote...
:good:
There's nothing wrong with underbidding . . .
YES!!!!!
Joe the Surveyor - Hijack
If you're in the market for a new avatar - just sayin' 😀
Joe the Surveyor - Hijack
I used to work with a surveyor who's reply to the "well the other guy said the survey would only cost ???, what can you do it for" would be "well, he's gotta know how much his work is worth" then thank 'em for calling and hand up. I don't mind people price shopping, that the American way it seems. It's just that I don't have to respond to the caller asking if I can do it lower than the next guy. There probably isn't even another survey quote, just beating you up with it to get the price down.
I'm not a whore or worse yet a slut giving my work away just to keep something hot in my stomach. I never try to beat a guy's price. This is what I need and if it's the lowest, great. I'd rather get the project based on qualifications and/or relations I've built. It's funny how you can build relations in a 15 min. phone call but it's true. That's why my partner handles most of the calls. She's a lot more patient than I am and deals with clients in a lot more personable manner.
Joe the Surveyor - Hijack
I wouldn't use the term underbidding, but my prices fluctuate based on the time of year and how busy I am. If I am extremely busy, I may add a few hundred to each quote. If I get the job, great a little extra profit. If not, oh well, I am busy anyhow. Same as when it is slow. I may drop a few hundred. Sometimes just to get the job to keep the crew working. Other times I have done this (and I have usually been right) is getting the first job for a somewhat lesser than normal rate often times lead to more work from the same customer or referrals at normal rate. Therefore, the $200 cut was worth it. I can usually tell where each client is coming from and the potential for more work within 5 minutes of talking to them on the phone. If they give me another surveyor's price I give them one of two answers -- That guy does good work and if he can do it for that price, feel free to call him OR You get what you pay for.
Joe the Surveyor - Hijack
Neil,
>You get what you pay for.
Heard about a Yankee a long time ago who paid a big price for what turned out to be worthless Florida swampland. Moral of the story...you do not necessarily "get what you pay for".
otoh You definitely "pay for what you get".:-|
ibenhavin
We're busier than usual. This year has been great for us and I've been holding out on hiring another crew saying "I don't want to hire people going into the winter..." Well now we're booked into February and I think it may be time.
Our prices are average...I'm not the most expensive guy out there nor am I the cheapest. I once had someone confront me about undercutting him...it wasn't by much but he thought I was too cheap. I showed him that through better efficiency in our business, we actually made more profit with our slightly lower price than he was making with his price. He hasn't bugged me since and I think he bought a robot...
We also keep a diverse client range...we work for on municipal projects, on commercial real estate, utility projects, construction projects, residential projects, pretty much any market we can get into we work in.
It's also important to remember that times have changes and the phone rarely rings randomly anymore...at least for us. I am out almost every night at networking events, at regional chamber of commerce or other social events. I have joined development trade groups, construction trade groups, etc. I hand out hundreds of business cards a week. This year I've been to at least a dozen different holiday functions and I've gotten work from all of them.
You have to be out there selling yourself to get work these days...it doesn't come to you.
Tom