I threw a price out there, just a ball park figure, but that was before I got deep into it.
First never give a price other then your hourly rate over the phone.
Never give a price until you have throughly looked at the job.
Learn to be assertive when dealing with customers, if you show signs of being passive they will take advantage of you, if your aggressive they will show you the door.
I get these all the time, and its a common ploy to try to down play the problems but remember with out doing the trouble shooting you will never know how extensive the job will take, and you could be short changing your self or the customer, be open and truthful as to why you cant price a job like this over the phone and stick to it, I find when your open and honest the customer is more likely to use you again, if you skills are not up to par then give the customer a break when you find something you felt it should have taken less time if you were more experienced, but at the same time don't short change yourself, always be fair, as it will always get more future work if they ever need it. just remember don't be a pushover and let them talk you down, If we learn to treat our customers like we would want to be treated,we would have more happy customers, the feeling is so great when you have a very satisfied customer, and they go out of their way to show you their appreciation, When I worked for my old company, it was a thrill when I would walk into the shop and see all the cards my customers sent to my boss, taped up on the wall, once you have experience this you will always have a good customer PR, But it all starts with being assertive open and honest, you can't be honest if you price jobs without looking at them first!
And always put in the paper work exactly what work your price includes and what it doesn't and that if there is unseen problems that have to be fixed then it will be at a time and material bases, unless you are comfortable to give a price, but only if so.
