satcom said:
The typical time waster is the call, I am buying a home and i need an estimate for replacing the what ever, (pool wiring, feed to garage, or outbuilding), they want a free estimate, because they just want the estimate to get the money from the seller, they will either do the work themself after they move in or shop for the cheapest area hacker.
If you as for a small dispatch fee, you can filter out most of these calls, if they accept your estimate you will apply it to the work.
Most of the calls of this type in our area are generated as the result of a home inspection. Typically, we're called by the buyer, seller or RE agent after a home inspection report has listed a number of "problems" (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, etc.). A few years ago we figured out a way to turn these "lemon" calls into lemonade. Since most of the home inspectors with whom we've come in contact have demonstrated a serious lack of knowledge of electrical practices, method, code or safety, (most of the reports I see have "corrections" listed that are
not code violations, improper wiring method or safety issues, while missing things that are. When we get these calls, we offer to perform a review of the inspection report, survey of the property and provide a written report of findings with accompanying photos and code citations where appropriate and an estimate of the cost of making these corrections. We charge a reasonable fee for this service. Our experience has been that by the time we've finished the process, educating the customer all the while, the customer is sufficiently convinced of our professionalism and competence (not to mention the necessity of making the recommended corrections for reasons of safety, liability, convenience, etc.) that we, almost without exception, are hired to make the necessary corrections.
