What should quotations cover?

[Rupe]

In addition to payment terms etc, make sure you put on how long the quote is valid for. 90 days is standard I think. You don't want someone coming back to you three years later when all your costs have trebled and saying they'd like to accept your quote.

 

Bit of a side isssue really, but if that happens (they come back to you 3 years later) just say no, or give a new price that they will or wont accept.

 

None of us are bound by our quotation for any amount of time at all. Of course it would look bad if we declined to do a job we had just quoted for but we would still be allowed to if we chose.

 

I haven't yet, but just recently I very very nearly withdrew my quotation for a job because of the client being a knob and annoying me with calls and emails every day (and some other issues, regarding the work) so there is no obligation for us to stick to carry out the work we have quoted for, especially after a significant period of time has passed, and certainly freinds and family would be understanding.

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Here's a link to Cornwall council guidance on selecting an appropriate tree work contractor:

 

Cornwall Council - Finding a reliable tree work contractor

 

I'm not endorsing it unilaterally, just punting it up there as an example of what CC recommend. You'll get the hang of it after getting caught out once or twice and refine your style as you go along until you hit the sweet spot you're happy with. I'd recommend trying a logical thought process - walk through the job in your mind, start to finish, include the detail you are content to do and specifically detail that which is / is not included. Talk to the customer and make sure you both understand what is / is not included. There are some very canny people out there that will, if opportunity arises, try and include the "could you just" add-ons once you arrive on task.

 

The whole private work at weekends thing: Only you know what your boss is like and how he / she might react. Personally, there's no way anyone is going to dictate what I do at the weekend (except the wife!)

[MATTMOSS]

Here's a link to Cornwall council guidance on selecting an appropriate tree work contractor:

 

Cornwall Council - Finding a reliable tree work contractor

 

I'm not endorsing it unilaterally, just punting it up there as an example of what CC recommend. You'll get the hang of it after getting caught out once or twice and refine your style as you go along until you hit the sweet spot you're happy with. I'd recommend trying a logical thought process - walk through the job in your mind, start to finish, include the detail you are content to do and specifically detail that which is / is not included. Talk to the customer and make sure you both understand what is / is not included. There are some very canny people out there that will, if opportunity arises, try and include the "could you just" add-ons once you arrive on task.

 

The whole private work at weekends thing: Only you know what your boss is like and how he / she might react. Personally, there's no way anyone is going to dictate what I do at the weekend (except the wife!)

 

Good post Kevin

[jaime bray]

The AAs AWG drafted out guidance on Terms and Conditions of business.

 

Have a look on the AA website under 'help for arborists', it MAY be of some benefit, it may not suit your needs. Depends what your after.

[eggsarascal]

I got caught out many years ago doing a private job on a Saturday. I was using my company van doing a private drainage job. At the time I was working for a big company that did not do the sort of job I was doing. That said when I went into work on the Monday my manager called me in to his office and asked me what I had been upto over the weekend. I knew there was something wrong so I told him about the private job. He already knew! His sister had told him that one of our vans was in her cul-de-sac all day Saturday. She had described me down to a tee:lol: Luckily for me my manager was a lad who used to work on the tools with me. Could have been a different story if he weren't a good lad.

[Paul Jenks]

Unless you are being paid to do a days work, try to avoid saying how long you'll be on site. Sometimes a job goes really well and you're done by lunch. Clients sometimes get a bit miffed if you said it'd take all day. Then they start to ask for extras or money off.