4 Tips for Closing More Jobs

It walks through exactly what the client can expect, and what the steps are to working with them.

Then, once you’ve communicated clearly what the client can expect, show up on time. If you’re running late, communicate! It’s amazing what level of forgiveness proactive communication buys you.

Quote Turnaround Time for All Jobs

This is a big one! I dare say, much of the time, this one is more critical than the price itself. What’s the top complaint of homeowners when they talk about their landscaper?

“I can’t get them to give me a quote.”

Meaning it’s been 2 or 3 weeks, and they still haven’t heard back from you.

Every day that passes after you leave the consultation on their property diminishes your chance of closing that job.

On the flip side, when you’re in the heat of the moment, excitedly reviewing details and “what could be” in their very own backyard, and you produce a quote right there on site… suffice to say, your close rate will go up. (I get it, some jobs require multiple design iterations, etc, so this idealistic example won’t work in all cases, but it can work in many many cases)

I remember one point of discussion in last year’s Contractor Summit (registration is open for 2023!) event was how Derek Matthews at Tussey Landscaping handles his consultations. The question had come from a contractor that was utilizing a multi-step 3D design process, that took a lot of time and energy.

Derek’s response was “My goal is to sell it without a design.” Basically, he was saying he wants as little friction as possible in the sales close process. And he’s not lying. I’ve watched him close six-figure projects with nothing more than a can of marking paint and a pencil sketch.

I just recently talked to that same contractor again and he said that reducing the emphasis on 3D design and showing up on the consultation with a can of marking paint has been huge for him in closing jobs.

Why?

Because it allows him to paint out on the ground the elements of the project, the clients can see it, trust goes up, and they’re ready to do the deal. All in the same visit.

Now, the ability to do this means you need to have a very streamlined estimating process. If it takes you hours to build a quote, this is going to be super tough. That’s where SynkedUP comes in. Ryan Hughes, a SynkedUP user from California, went from spending 2-3 days on multi-six-figure quotes to 10-15 minutes.

Now that’s how you close more jobs.

If you qualified your lead, had a great consultation, and are the first contractor back with a quote, it’s very often a slam dunk. Even if your quote is not the cheapest.

The guy with the best consultation, but took weeks to get back with a quote… that guy’s close rate is going to suffer, and it won’t be because of the price.

Professional and Clear Job Proposals

Having a professional-looking proposal speaks volumes. It separates you from the pack. Your clients will notice when you have a clean, clear, easy process for reviewing and approving proposals. Here’s a dummy one I made quickly (in under 2 min) in SynkedUP