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The Sales Process....

14K views 38 replies 20 participants last post by  jpacelt 
#1 ·
So after being in on a webinar the other night, I realized this is a big area were lacking in. Our call backs are horrible and is mostly due to the fact I do too many estimates at peak times of the year and have little time for it.

Being as we dont market to our past customers, which im in the process of fixing as we speak. All home owners have to judge us on is our sales process. Your quality of work is pretty irellevant at that time. The customer is basing there choice on price and presentation at this point.

What do you guys do the seperates you and helps you win the job?

Ill start....two biggest things im changing are bids on the spot and printing the estimate out before leaving. Obviously my call backs need to be done also.

Dress nice
dont park in the drive way
dont smell like smoke
ect.....

Also any help on training a sales person would help also. I had one of our older painters helping me last year but his abiltiy to sell is non exsistent and ill be going a diffrent direction this year.

What do you guys who use pep cloud think? I liked it at first. It gives a good presentation but i think once you print it, it looks really lame. I may switch back to my custom word format.
 
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#2 · (Edited)
Aside from some biggies that would include appearance (both myself and my vehicle), speaking well, and avoiding talking up my company too much or talking down the competition (avoid that at all costs), I've found that it can be an accumulation of small things that often help me get the job.

First, I try to listen more than talk, at least for the first half of the bid time. Let them share their reasons for having you out.

Then, ask lots of questions about what they want done. Are they doing the work for their benefit or are they doing it so they can put the house on the market? What quality of work are they after (not everyone wants the top of the line show and the resulting price tag)? What is the area going to be used for (ex. a kid's room versus a den)? Determine if any special prep or coatings may be required as a result. Also, check to see if there are problem areas that may need to be dealt with. Are there water stains on the ceilings? Does the area above the shower stall need caulking? Is the finish in the bathroom appropriate for that area or should a higher sheen be applied? Are there nail pops and cracks that need repairing? Pointing these out and telling them how you will address those during the job conveys to the customer that you are aware and prepared to address those issues. These are all some examples of things that might come up.

Take good notes. Nothing says unprepared or unprofessional in my opinion than to leave something out of a bid or to have to call and ask the HO about something that was already covered. Being thorough projects having your act together and helps grow the customer's confidence in you as a professional.

I also try to get the names of the primary contacts (spelled correctly), as well as the names of any kids I get introduced to, and of any pets that might be around. I've said it before, but I really think I have gotten some jobs by referring to a HO's child or pet by their name later on during a bid.

Not everything by any means, but just a few things I try and take care of on my bid trips.
 
#3 ·
Excellent topic Matt, and very timely for myself actually. I've always done the things you posted, and a good deal of what RH does, but I've never been through any actual sales training and have always felt like I'm just winging it. My closing ratio has always been in the low 30%, but getting it to at least 50% would be huge for me.

And the reason I said your topic was timely for me is because next week I'm giving it a shot at the one on one coaching with Steve. He's really passonate about sales and that's the one thing I know I could stand to really work on.
 
#4 · (Edited)
You're right on with PEP. It looks super lame printed out yet it looks amazing when sent via email. I send them all through email so it's not a problem for me but if I were to start giving them on the spot I'd change estimating programs.
 
#7 · (Edited)
Richmond
i love selling, i have a "sell sheet" for cabinets, interior, exterior, pool screen enclosure, ect

so if i am called to price painting their cabinet i give them that sell sheet while i am talking to them and tell them here's a little info on our cabinet painting service or here's some info on our interior painting service

a few points on sell sheet:

37 years in the painting trade with shop located at ......
(shows we're qualified & stable)

all work done by a written contract with a certificate of insurance issued by our insurance company listing your name & address ( everyone is lic & ins but we give written certificate )


written warranty on all work ( by a real company with commercial address )

full time highly skilled crew
( again shows we're professionals )

then a few pic of our work related to the bid

FAQ like for interior:
our skilled crew will show at your home & move furniture to center of room, cover with new plastic, remove light switch covers, patch nail holes, caulk, sand walls, apply 2 coats of quality paint ect ...

or cabinets :remove doors & drawers, label them and all hardware, degrease, sand & prep, ect ...

exterior:
using our 4,000 PSI hot water pressure washer our skilled crew will clean your exterior, repair all stucco cracks, recaulk all windows & doors, ect ...

the point is you can tell the HO anything you want but they only remember part of your sell

giving them a sell sheet with basic info for that type job answers a lot of questions the HO has, give them the basic FAQ and mixed with a few pic of the type of job they want it really does go a long way

of course that just part of the sell job but something i see missing in my market by a lot of painters & something that helps me

couldn't up load a sheet to show you but maybe you get the ideal
 
#8 ·
Repaint Florida said:
Richmond i love selling, i have a "sell sheet" for cabinets, interior, exterior, pool screen enclosure, ect so if i am called to price painting their cabinet i give them that sell sheet while i am talking to them and tell them here's a little info on our cabinet painting service or here's some info on our interior painting service a few points on sell sheet: 37 years in the painting trade with shop located at ...... (shows we're qualified & stable) all work done by a written contract with a certificate of insurance issued by our insurance company listing your name & address ( everyone is lic & ins but we give written certificate ) written warranty on all work ( by a real company with commercial address ) full time highly skilled crew ( again shows we're professionals ) then a few pic of our work related to the bid FAQ like for interior: our skilled crew will show at your home & move furniture to center of room, cover with new plastic, remove light switch covers, patch nail holes, caulk, sand walls, apply 2 coats of quality paint ect ... or cabinets :remove doors & drawers, label them and all hardware, degrease, sand & prep, ect ... exterior: using our 4,000 PSI hot water pressure washer our skilled crew will clean your exterior, repair all stucco cracks, recaulk all windows & doors, ect ... the point is you can tell the HO anything you want but they only remember part of your sell giving them a sell sheet with basic info for that type job answers a lot of questions the HO has, give them the basic FAQ and mixed with a few pic of the type of job they want it really does go a long way of course that just part of the sell job but something i see missing in my market by a lot of painters & something that helps me couldn't up load a sheet to show you but maybe you get the ideal
The additionally insured move for home owners is brilliant.
 
#9 ·
One Step Estimating and Estimate Works Pro both print out word proposals both very easy to modify add pictures etc.

Pep does have a cool email template but there proposal printed out isn't very customer friendly.

I personally don't print out proposal on the spot 90 percent of perspective clients here want at least 3 bids before they close a deal. I get the being a better salesman it's someting I think most of us struggle with. Back when I was the marketing / speaker booker for our local PDCA group we listened to all kinds of salesman pitch what works or worked for them.

I like RPF sell sheets idea and myself being a fan of print marketing and DM still in this Google world cause it works. One thing I learned in my journey was allot depends on where you do business. The franchise company's are better trained in that department here and with the ridiculous low prices they offer they out sell me:whistling2:

One of my best buds sells cars and motorcycles for a living has been for 30 plus years . He's very good at it but he will tell you his best quality is being able to listen , knowing his product and not being pushy.
 
#13 ·
Thanks for starting this topic, I just moved to the Daytona Beach area and started working with a company who can use some sales since the owner hurt his back and can barely walk, I asked him today if he wants me to get out and do some sales, had to come here for some tips, really like what Ive heard so far. Jeff, would it be inappropriate to ask for a 15 minute sit down with you to talk about some things? Since were so close and all lol. The guy Im working for is pretty small, but does a lot of work for one big builder in the area, doesnt do any marketing etc.. Either way, let me know, thanks
 
#18 ·
Hey guys, sales and estimating is what I do for The Painter, Inc of VA.

This is an excellent discussion topic. We're certainly not the least expensive guys in Hampton Roads, but we have grown exponentially this year over last; and that has been the story for several years now.

The reason I'm doing pretty well is the complete lack of sales effort by most of my competition. I don't paint at all, I just do estimating and sales. My car is wrapped and I have an annual unlimited pass for a local car wash, so I drive through nearly every morning so the car is always standing tall. I wear nice branded apparel, never a t-shirt. I always wear slip on loafers and take my shoes off when I enter a house, even if they don't. It's goofy little things like that that people notice, oddly enough.

I do an up front interview (fact finding) before I do a walk through. I carry a Surface 3 with me and a laser measure and ask questions all the way through the house. When I'm asking questions I'm trying to build value in the process, and, believe it or not, based on the house and the job, I might be trying to lower the customer's expectations. (under promise/over deliver). As I measure the house I input everything onto a spreadhseet I have on my Surface and it is calculating the job for me.

We do in-house surveys at the end of each job, and we compile those and keep them in a book. While I'm putting together the proposal I have the customer review our surveys, continuing to build value in our company and painters.

I carry a bluetooth printer with me, and after I've typed up the proposal, I print it out and add it to a sales packet that I use. The packet contains our insurance declaration age, additional information about our company, a print out of additional added values for our customers and a few other things. I use a tailored presentation based on our conversation and I do the presentation the same way EVERY time. I ALWAYS try to close the deal on the spot, but am a good enough sales person to recognize when to push for the sale and when not to.

In a nutshell: we have a live person answering our phone so the customer rarely has to leave a message. The person who answers sets the appointments for me. We are super responsive to requests for estimates, understanding the key to winning the job is often being the first one to respond. As I mentioned, we aren't cheap, so being first is important.

I am almost always on time and I call them 30 minutes ahead of time to remind them that we have an appointment and that I'll be on time. If I'm going to be 2 minutes late I call and let them know. Again, another little goofy thing that they really notice and appreciate.

First impressions are everything.
 

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#23 ·
Like I said franchise company's due what you do in the sales process and here at least they are the low guy. If it's working for you and your company that's all that matters. I will say it again most if not almost all perspective customers will not commit to agreement on the spot unless your the 2nd or third guy in. Printing out your proposal on the spot again maybe in some areas works. In my history of selling it never increased my sales.
 
#19 ·
It appears you have a great sales system! Seems very organized, quick, and professional. Just what a homeowner, or building owner, would want.

But I do have a question about your logo. Do you find that emphasizing a religious symbol helps to sell more jobs? I apologize if that seems a little flippant, but I would trust your company even with a regular "t" given how professional you present yourself.
 
#20 ·
Convictions. I would say that we probably paint as many homes and businesses of non-Christians as we do Christians.

It might turn some people off, and that's ok with us. Hopefully what it leads us as an organization to do is to uphold the principles of our faith in ways that mean something to every customer. We have 8 full-time painters and not all of them are Christians, but they understand that what drives our quality and approach to customer service is our faith.

Because of the cross on our logo I believe we are held to a higher degree of accountability by everyone than we would be otherwise, and that works for us.
 
#36 ·
My belief is that your lead doesn't really need to be sold too.

They're already interested in getting paint work done, you just need to show your an expert in their field.

Explain "Why" the paint on their property breaks down and what will happens if they don't remedy the problem eg. rotting weather boards.

Listen to their wants and needs. Don't be to over confident and too salesy . Talk to them on their level.

Simple tactics like this have allowed me to convert over 80% of my leads
 
#37 ·
I have seen painting contractors use tablets with 4G capability for developing and presenting estimates. You can still close the job on the spot with an electronic signature (https://www.signnow.com/). Plus you can send a copy of the signed estimate to the customer via email. This eliminates having to print and deal with paperwork.
Additionally, if you use Quickbooks Online Plus to do the estimate, it will sync with your records and allow you to carry over to an invoice.
 
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