wilkie,
you sound like maio, "the estimate is free, there's just a small trip charge for us to get out there"
with the prices of just gas, labor and advertising these days, you really have to do it.
if it costs you $50 to give an estimate (between advertising, labor and overhead) and you do not charge for it, look at these number.
you close 1/2 of your calls with a job average of $400. Well take $100 right off the top ($50 for the job you didn't get + $50 for the job you did get) and suddenly, you only have $300 to cover that job.
it's vicious. good luck with it wilkie
