Reference List

[electricmanscott]

When working with a possible new client that requests references how many and how much info do you normally provide?

I'm working with a new contractor who would like some references and I can't remember ever providing any in the past. So what is the norm?

 

[celtic]

You could ask them "Why? Have you ever gotten a reference list that showed even one bad apple?"

 

[emahler]

exactly....even I could give 3 positive references (if you want 4, i'm screwed...but 3, i'm golden)

 

[satcom]

So what is the norm?

What is funny is we want references for new contractor, banks, vendors, current DB reports, before we enter into any aggrement with them. We want their payment history, and bank rankings, before we do a dimes work.


How was your creative writing, and story telling in school, any good story teller, should be able, to create a few pages of positive references, in no time at all.

The last contractors that asked for references, turned around and went to them looking for work, neat way to find qualifed customers, and tee the customer you used as a ref. Any ref you provide should have a written and signed privacy clause.


When you gave a good account as a ref, you are giving someone your golden egg account.!!!! "caution when giving out infromation."

 

[brian john]

We have a premade list of Clientele (all clients on the list have approved their name being utilized) List has mostly top dogs in their end of the business, we try to hit at least one from every sector we work in. there is somewhere between 30-40 names, we put this in a brochure with our company list of services.

 

[Bob Kraemer]

When working with a possible new client that requests references how many and how much info do you normally provide?

I'm working with a new contractor who would like some references and I can't remember ever providing any in the past. So what is the norm?

If he wants references, that's fine, provide them, after he provides you with a list of references of completed work, payment schedules to other subs (were they on time or late) etc!!
2 can play at that game, if he wants to check on you, you should be able to check on him also.

 

[resistance]

We've just went through this.
A builder (GC) wanted three references.
Our list:
First From another builder,
Second From another builder, and
Third From a contractor (Small business contractor) who worked for the builder (This is rare, but we got lucky)<<----heck this is all we had, seeing that our area is a monopoly, with a great deal of discrimination (I may be bitter, but it's the truth).

Match apples with apples if you can, then no work can be stolen. I guess I should say: The apple being the same as the reference seeker.

I'm on board with the suggestions above as well!

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

Lets see, in ones career there are always some unsatisfied customers, and some very happy customers.

It boils down to the 10% rule.
You can keep 5% of the people happy no matter what you do. You will make 5% of the people unhappy, no matter how far you bend over. That leaves 90% of the people to make happy if you can.

So, my question is, are you going to use the 5% of unhappy people for reference?


If I was to ask for references, I would want to speak to a couple of customers you are presently working for.:wink: