I got a call a month ago from a Realtor who demanded a free inspection for a mouse job. She didn't go into too much detail, she simply said she wanted to find the best out there, and she needed an expert with mice. Lucky for me I do free inspections anyway. I sold the job for $15,000.00. Like I said before, you holyer than thow ADC guys who think your the best thing to happen to ADC since the cage trap can keep your measly inspection fees. I'm gonna go and count my paper!

$75 initial consultation/inspection here, goes towards total job if hired.

Several have decided to DIY after I told them what I was gonna do and how much it'd cost.

Some hire me just to catch the critters and they close the holes, etc.

It works for me in this area.

Critter Control told a woman this morning, with a squirrel in her wall, what it'd cost her to come from Raleigh and they told her what website to go to, where she found me. I go there in the morning before checking a skunk job I started a few days ago.

I only do single story bat jobs since I've fallen 16 ft and lived. I refer them to my younger competitors who give me a finder fee.

But then again...
did a Vulture prevention job yesterday, 30 mins away, for a single mom, for $25.

She has the tools and manpower and just didn't know it.

$15,000 for a mouse job???? i sure must be under bidding my work..

Your post says it all! Stop charging an inspection fee and get out there and compete. May the best company win!

.

.

I didn't say may the "cheapest" company win. I sell jobs all the time when I'm not the cheapest. Don't forget who your talking to Nate we aren't your customers. You can get over yourself now. The problem I have with you is the way you would call a guy like me a "Yahoo". How do you know that just because a guy does free inspections that the work will be over priced or done poorly?

.

You said "We have some yahoo charging $99" that sounds to me like you don't really know him at all and the reason he's a yahoo is because he only charges $99 you also said "last I heard he was begging for work" to me saying this stuff makes you sound like a tool, and causes me to not like you. Sure I know you don't need me to like you and your going to continue to say such things but I did want to clarify. To your point about me being one of the reasons as to why people lurk. I think you might just be confused, the main reason people lurk is because not everyone loves the sound of their own voice as much as you do.
Perhaps you can get away with charging as much as you do because you are the best in your area or maybe your the best at marketing your business and you get enough people willing to go with the first company to answer the phone. Like BlackDog said, if I were in your area you'd better hope they dont call me first. With a free inspection/estimate What do they have to loose? You said you compete with 8 other guys, try competing with 25+
I've been on this forum for as long as you and most of the time I agree with you and like your informative posts. Sometimes I don't.

Theres an old saying "If ya can't beat 'em...."

I never charge for a quotation call out, i simply arrange to go round and have a chat with them. Not once have i not got the job! If you're any good you should be able to sell your service. I never tell the customer any methods, I emphisise that I will sort the job without any problems. I have zero price structure really, i just make it up when im there often, sort of ad-lib my way through it. The killer crunch that makes them take the bait is "I've got some traps in the car, so i can get them in right now if you want" Works every time.IMO if you're charging for a call-out your going to loose business......

When I first started out I did free inspections to get my name out there. I rolled on every call that came in, but sold only about half. Now I charge an inspection fee and I see it as a "qualifier fee" if they balk on that then they are not serious about getting it done the right way in my book. Often the lowest price guy around here and the free inspection guys do a half way job at best and thats if they even show back up after taking the first check from the customer. I simply tell those that say "I will call you back" to "remember who I am and my phone number because when the guy you hire for the lowest price doesnt show back up youll need my info." and sometimes that line alone opens the door to more of why I charge what Icharge and has even sold the job at times.

.

The free comes on the phone. I will spend as much time on the phone as that customer needs to decide what they want. If they are tire kicking on cost, I can give starting points and and highs. After 30 something years in the trade I know what is the norm in my areas and towns. so I can give ball parks but always leave it open and this can change when I see what they have. Also after a time in the business a person should be able to get the info from a customer on the phone to have a good idea what is going on at the site. My wife can talk to the customer and then tell me what she thinks the problem is and 90% of the time she is right. so the free time is on the phone. if they saw they have a coon I find out is the problem is coon or if in fact the coon was there for the squirrels, all this can be found out as a rough idea on the phone. So If I go to the job I am charging. The inspection is not a quote but a service. and the customer knows this before I go out. If the person wants to do it them self then they have the inspection to go off of. If they are going to use me as the work standards for other bids, then have at it. I got paid to do a job, which is give the customer facts to work from. My job at that point is to give a consultation not get a job. but with a paid inspection most of the time it leads into a job. so if I do 5 inspections that day and land no jobs I still survive. I have found that many that want the free inspection when I say well in a sense you are getting a free inspection if you hire me as I quote a price for the job that includes the inspection, if they are trying to get the lower price or play games they move on all it cost me was a phone call. then again I will tell them go get your free inspections then call me back if you need me. 80% of those people will call me back. they tell me I gave more information on the phone on general habits and behaviours than the free inspection gave.

when I go I get paid. if they do not want to pay me then I do not want to do work for them. when I first started doing this work I did free inspections. now the free is on the phone. but to each their own. I might add that customers tell me all the time the folks that charge to come out seem to know the business better,I do not know that to be true, But I believe it is we just have a confidence in what we know and can do and that stands out.

I guess it all depends on what works for the individual....Free call outs work for me, thats why i'm working 7 days a week and employing someone two days a week. Alot of it comes down to confidence in front of the customer and having a great telephone manner. If it ain't broke...

Okay, I guess I got confused on the original question. When I hear the word "inspection", I immediately think of bat calls. Since we deduct the price of the bat inspection from the total cost, inspection price is not all that important. As far as other animals and pests are concerned, I would not drive across the street without a service call. And we don't even start the job until the service call is paid. If you don't get the service call, the chances are real good that you won't get anything. And please don't tell me that you will take business away by not charging a service call; you will be out of business in a year. Gas here is 4 bucks a gallon and we use up a gallon every 10 to 12 miles. You do the math.

Hey Nick, sending you a PM about a bat inspection

I guess I better start doing free inspections then. I am thinking about moving away from Madison and getting closer to Milwaukee. It just makes good sence because of the people population.

Compete on service....then price is not an issue.

.