captkirk

The yellow pages are overrated too. I wish I could have taken back one of my ads. Im in two books. Most of my work now is word of mouth and through GCs. Oddly enough I think the internet is a bit overrated too. 90 percent of my work is word of mouth now. I think people like the assurance of using someone that is recomended by another person. Of course you still get those that just open up the yellow pages of look online but what assurance do people have looking at an ad on paper or online...?

BryanMD

There are very few residential customers who have a recurring need for an electrician. And of those that do (like old Victorians)... most are the last to hire an EC unless it is part of the total remodel. And after that is done... they get added to the larger group of residential customers who don't have a recurring need for an electrician. It's a bad cycle

When they are MOST likely to hire an EC is immediately before selling to "tighten up" some known problem/defect and immediately after buying when they are still learning which circuits shouldn't be overloaded or add/change some lights.

Real estate agents, inspectors and remodeling contractors who already have 20 EC's they deal with or a new homeowner with a dark room thumbing the yellow pages for the EC who will get there soonest... and then cheapest.

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March 2010: On the road with my RV. California is first primary destination then it is off to Eastern OR, Northern ID and Western MT for drycamping and fly fishing until Labor Day.

bobelectric

you fooled yourself.,and your backers.

captkirk

I have quite a few regular resi customers and they refer me new customers all the time.....my name even comes up on a local town websight.....Ive gotten at least three dozen jobs just from this town web sight and it all started with one good comment from a customer that I did work for on at least 5 different times. ......When you do good work your name will get around simple as that.
I think as a small contractor I have an advantage in customer service.Because it is usually me who is doing the work and all the smoozing. And dont kid yourself,....a little smozzing goes a loooonnng way especially with the housewives. Just dont over do it. Smoozing is almost an art form.
And I really think that not many employees are as considerate as I (the owner) am. I never leave someones house with any kind of mess, even if im not done or its a rough wire. And I extend the same service to all my GC's. They dont have to go picking up after me...I cant tell you how many times people have commented on my "swifter mop".... Not only do I leave their wood floors shinny but they smell great too......

BryanMD

Could you give some example of what these successive transactions are for?

are they doing remodel stuff in dribs and drabs?
or are you able to turn call back's into new jobs?

seriously... is something electrical "breaking" in these homes that doesn't break in any of the homes of my neighbors or the homes I've lived in?

__________________
March 2010: On the road with my RV. California is first primary destination then it is off to Eastern OR, Northern ID and Western MT for drycamping and fly fishing until Labor Day.

captkirk

OMG your so werid......like I really want to explain my comment....Yea you got me.... I made it all up.... Im guilty.....your the man dude...

Can I give you some examples LOL...........(Tony is standing with both hands up) .............. .........sure anytime your in Northern New Jersey Ill let you go through all my customers on my quickbooks. Why should I feel the need to tell you what i do......? why do you think you've got it all figued out........
You make a blanket statement like Resi customers dont usually repeat and you couldnt be any less correct....
But just to show you im a sporting guy....
Customer one
- first job was moving service off of pole to pad mount trans ( about 1000 feet of PVC underground) also included all phone, cable. included moving service for carrige house from over head to underground.
- 2nd job install four clock outlets on switches, install three sconces, install 8(box already existing) new lights around home, install new outlet in dinning room plus a few other "odds and ends"

-3rd job
remove existing OLD OLD eight gang stacked (four, four) switch box from three different locations. patch wall and install new dimmers and decora switches...

-4th Job
replace all devices in home to decora
- 5th install two new outdoor transformers to lessen the load on two existing
-
Customer two ( customer ones neighbor)
-1st job install 29 6 inch cans at 175 per
install 9 four inch cans at 185 per
remove existing light fixtures (15 totall) and replace with new
-2nd job replace all lamps (168 various types) for all exterior lighting
replace outdoor speaker for inter

Oh why am i bothering I literaly have pages and pages of this crap.
So maybe you dont really have it all figured out . and I missed a few other things above but you get the point.
I never understand why so many of you guys get so confontational with this shi t . So I make a nice living doing resi what do you care if I have repeat customers.......?
I wish I had the patience to tell you of some other nice repeats. FWIW I am about to start a 35,000 landscape lighting job that I got from wiring a customers outdoor kitchen at the beggining of the summer.
Man guys like you really get me going ......Bryan your such a doucher.........I hate guys that think they know it all.......what are you some big time commercial contractor......OOOOOO wow....your the man.......

BryanMD

Calm down guy.
Thanks for the info and I'm really happy you are busy and finding success.

My point has been that most resi work (like most of what you described) is in the range of upgrades and remodeling. There's nothing to be defensive about in that but I still stand by my original statement(s) that little (maybe even any) of the work you described is in the *needed* category. That's all.

Go sell some more work.

__________________
March 2010: On the road with my RV. California is first primary destination then it is off to Eastern OR, Northern ID and Western MT for drycamping and fly fishing until Labor Day.

captkirk

If you reread your post you will see that it comes off as very condescending. Ive been coming to these sights for three years now and if there's one thing Ive learned its pointless to argue with someone on here. But your post was so opposite of what is true for me that I couldn't resist. Sorry...

Magnettica

Existing residential's all about repeat business. I have similar stories to Tony's as far the next door neighbor wants you to come over after you're done here sort of thing. I have one block in a town where I go from one house to the next, to the next, to the next, and it all started by responding quickly to a doorbell not working. It can be difficult at times to remember some of the children's names and/ or pet names but people love that when you do and I love it when they say hey we got an extra couple of tickets for the Yanks you want them?

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Bob Badger

Perfect example right at my own home, my neighbor to the right had his home painted, he had nothing but good to say about the painting contractor so I hired him to do my home, now my neighbor to the left is also hiring this guy.

Being courtesy, clean and professional and the good word of mouth that generates gets you more work.

robnj772

I could keep myself busy just on my repeat Resid customers alone.

If you do a good job and the people are happy they WILL call you back and they WILL refer you to their friends and family.I have hundreds of customers that call me back multipule times

Go fix and outlet six months later get a call my wife thinks the kitchen is dark she wants some recessed lights gonna have a baby need to put an addition on,do you have a good GC you work with ETC ETC ETC

I could go on and on and on with this.

To say that resid service call customers are one time customers you must be doing something wrong

__________________
"I don't worry about terrorism. I was married for two years. "
Sam Kinison

mcclary's electrical

I thougth the EXACT same thing when I read his post. I have customers that I have been to their house 20 times. Change all devices from standard to decor, install recessed lights in kitchen, install coax outlets where needed, add floor boxes, change floods, add floods, run new wire for microwave, once they find out what you can do, it's no holds barred. If they wanna move a tv, they move it, if they buy a lamp, we;ll put in a floorbox, they got a darkspot in backyard, we'll put in floods. Once they get used to using you, it will be like clockwork.

user5941

Get a plan and write it down then follow it. The biggest obstacle facing most self employed electricians is they work out of their house and it can be very difficult to get into "work" mode sitting on your couch.

Make the local lumber yard your "office" and go their every morning for coffee and networking.Contractors who have projects will be buying material and you need to put your card in their hand.

Visit the real estate agents ,older homes are moving and most will need some minor work before closing.


Visit with other trades many will be willing to trade leads.

Be cretive but dont go home until your day is done.