Commercial Bids

[McBillNLex]

I especially notice that with applications, the first bid, especially if the applicator, in the application truck, is the one doing the bidding. And while there, after the client signs the Lawn service agreement, goes ahead and does the first app! No sense in having a national lowballer come in under you!

[MortNuke]

I do believe that I am seeing the light...

Mort

[Woody]

A couple more EXCELLENT posts from the Grassmaster! That is the way I do business myself. No matter how tired, sweaty, etc., if someone wants a bid, they get it as soon as I can get there (same day for sure, unless the potential customer wants a different day/time).

I love the Ryans Steakhouse deal. It has gotten me to think more about exposure, which I haven't thought too awful much about in the past.

Always appreciate your advice, Grassmaster!

Woody

[Hova]

Thank you my fellow Colleagues.

[GrassMaster]

Hello Everybody:

Thank You all for the Kind Words!

The Ryan's Steak House Location was worth a lot to me, Because of the Location & Location only, for Exposure Only!

Let me ask you this, How many people do you think saw me in the Yellow Pages that day? Maybe 2 or 3 people max? Now How many 100's do you think saw My Company Name, Phone Number, Work & Crew in action at Ryans next to that Intersection. LOL, I made Sure My Vehicles were parked where they could be read easily!

Here's a Good one T00!

Anytime I had a Chance to get a house at or very near a 4 way stop at a Major Intersection just inside a Nice Neighborhood, I would do what ever it took to get the account!

We had several of them, but I had this one 10 day account, that if it had just 1 pine cone or LOL just a Little Straw or even pieces of Pine Tree Bark in the Lawn, we got it, If time permitted!

These Top Locations, are Great Places to Park Your Trucks & Get Exposure, if you have proper Signage on Vehicles & Trailers! I had a Sign on my Tailgate, that could only be seen when tailgate was up, it Had Company Name & Phone Number only on it, in Big Letters!

It's all about making money in the Least amount of Time!

[edger]

Ok here i go.

There are two large commercial lots that I want to take care of. Right now i know that there is a fly by night type doing the yards. These yards are well over 8 to 10 acers total for them both. Right now they look like a**. Clipping and clumps everywhere!!

My question is this. Is it better to cold call these placse and see who is in charge of this department and then come back? OR, Find out who this person is and make an apointment with them? or, Find out who he/she is and meet with them right then?

These two accouts would be great starter accounts for me. I will have the equipment in the next two weeks. If everything goes as planned.

Another question. Should i wait till i'm closer to getting my equipment before talking to them? or go talk to them now and explain to them that my equipment is on order and will be in 2weeks? ( I could maybe get the dealer i'm getting my things from let me use a loner for a day)

These two comapnies yards are the first 2 MAJOR yards on this road in this industrial area. There are a few more LARGE warehouses in the area also that i will try and bid on!

thanks
chris

[GrassMaster]

Hello Edger:

Is it better to cold call these placse and see who is in charge of this department and then come back? OR, Find out who this person is and make an apointment with them? or, Find out who he/she is and meet with them right then?

Please go to the Link below & Read?

http://www.lawnserviceforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3125

Another question. Should i wait till i'm closer to getting my equipment before talking to them? or go talk to them now and explain to them that my equipment is on order and will be in 2weeks? ( I could maybe get the dealer i'm getting my things from let me use a loner for a day)

Talk to them ASAP, if you want the Account?

It will probably take a week or 2 to get things lined up anyways! At this Moment getting the job, is more important than getting the Equipment.

LOL, You get the Money Right I'll get you 10 ZTR's on your Front lawn tomorrow, with GPS Tracking & DVD Players installed on them, Painted Pink with Grateful Dead Embroidered on the Seats! You are looking at about $35,000 each with $200K Down & the other $150K when they are delivered in the Morning! Get the Picture!

Don't wait on anything if you want it, it's none of anybodies business about your equipment situation, if you have it or not, it's your business only, never theirs!

I'm not trying to be a jerk here, but when you are trying to get accounts, what you say is very important & every word is judged by what you say.

When you are talking to a General Contractor about building a Shopping Mall or a Guy down the street about building you a dog house or picnic table, they will never mention how many hammers they got or how many concrete saws they got, they just tell you that they are the right person for the job & they can do it! That's all that counts! Get the Picture!

Stick to business, forget the BS & Every Minute is Precious for both of you make it count! Try to do everything on the Phone, before you are ready to meet with them about the Bid! You just want permission to go on their Property & Get with them later about a bid at Their Convenience, not yours. You are going after a New Commercial Account, GO Whole Hawg!

You are on a mission to get that account no more or no less, in the shortest amount of time! So you can make the Most amount of Money! Knock it out ASAP!

[edger]

I'm in the middle of calling the one place now. Just keeping getting voice mails!.

[edger]

Well talked to someone! She was very short with me and was of little help. Got the gentlemens name who owns the building and that about it. She would not trasfer me to a voice mail nor give me his email.

She said they have soneone that does it already. She was very short with me!!

[edger]

So now this question. I just found out who the V-P and the Pres. of the company are. Do i drop them a nice letter by snail may alog with one to the building owner?

Damn that lady rubbed me the wrong way very rude. She said he would be back next week. So I may stop in on him then. Along with a letter to the other two? yes ? no?

[Lawngodfather]

This is normal, just stop on in, see if you can chat staight away, if not set an appointment up, you will most likely get 2 things, they got some body again (this means they don't care) or sure why not. At this time with the "sure why not" sell curb apeal, but without putting down the LCO now, try not to refference that they are doing a lousy job. You will have to say things like you wont leave clumps and stuff, but don't use terms "like it is now" or "I can do better than this" etc........ Doing that you also put down the the guy in charge of grounds maintenance, plus the LCO.


Thing is they are content with whom they have, so you have to sell curb apeal. It will loook better as clients drive by, and enter.

Also be prepaired to give an estimate fast. You have less than a week to change their mind, in your case you have 2 weeks.

[jrservices]

Thing is they are content with whom they have, so you have to sell curb apeal. It will loook better as clients drive by, and enter.

So very true. Have picked up several accounts by simply doing top quality work. Be better than the person that did it before you.

[edger]

Thanks for the advice here today. I will go by the one place Tuesday morning when i get off from the FD. If the building owner isn't there, should i make contact with the VP or president while there or hold off till i can talk to the man himself?

Just got back from doing a walk around this other commercial place and man does it need some curb apeal!! This job i haven't sat down and worked the numbers for but they will not be small i can tell you this. Looking at well over 3k for the first cut and manicure. This is going to be my best bet for my first job. I have the inside scoop on this place. Due to it being in my fire district.

Quality Curb Apeal is what i am going to sell to these places!!


Oh while your here i'm still in the name making game here for my LOC. I was looking at Cutting Edge Lawn Care. Until i stopped and was bsing with another LOC and noticed his name was "The Cutting Edge". I said to myself "no way!!" So now the name game has started again for me. Looking at Quality Lawn Care now. Yes no? I would like to think of something Quality somthing. Just don't know what. The wife and i both have been thowing things out but nothing tickles me as of yet.
Thanks
Chris

[Lawngodfather]

Carolina Lawn(or land) Maintenance.

[edger]

What do you think about Grasschopper Lawn Care?