As a home improvement business, it can be difficult to cut through the noise of all the reports of rogue traders. Even though they’re a small proportion of the trade industry, they’ve created a lot of distrust amongst homeowners. So how do you build yourself a good reputation so you get lots of repeat business? We’ve come up with 5 ways that are easy to implement and don’t cost over the odds.
1. Get a DBS check
You may know the DBS scheme as the CRB, which is the service that checks a person’s criminal record. Some people in certain job roles must have a DBS check before they can start work. It usually applies to people that work with children or vulnerable adults. There’s no obligation for you to have a DBS check, but it will reassure people that may be worried about letting a stranger into their home.
2. Create a portfolio of references
It’s a great idea to get recommendations from previous customers. It’s the most valuable form of advertising for your business. A great way to gather recommendations is through the Quotatis Smart Reviews system. You can collect reviews from previous Quotatis customers. These reviews will display on your Smart Profile which any customer can search for and find, whether they used Quotatis or not.
Once you’ve gathered a few reviews, you’ll notice that you win more work as homeowners are more likely to trust that your service and your work is up to a great standard.
3. Update your qualifications
Update your skills to keep up with industry changes, so you won’t find yourself turning down jobs. If you’ve got all the correct qualifications for your industry and can prove it, you’ll reassure your customers that they can leave their home in your hands.
4. Give detailed quotes
Customers want to see how much they are spending on everything that you include in a job, so make sure you itemise your quote. Be reasonable with your prices – one of the things that customers rate you on in a Quotatis review is price competitiveness. Of course, you need to make money with a good profit margin. But price your jobs too high and you’ll get a reputation for being too expensive.
Giving your customers a detailed quote, showing the breakdown of materials and labour, will give you a good reputation of being transparent and honest with your clients.
We only accept the best pros
At Quotatis, we only accept tradespeople onto our network that are reputable. Every pro must have public liability insurance as a minimum, as well as any required memberships of trade associations. So if you’re a boiler engineer, you’ll need to provide us with your Gas Safe number. You’ll also need to provide proof of ID.
We monitor our pros’ reviews to ensure that they are providing excellent service, but also to ensure that reviews are genuine. Our reviews system is closed, meaning that only customers that have used Quotatis can leave a review. But we know that sometimes reviews can slip through. If you have any questions about reputation building or your reviews, give customer services a call on 0203 514 4085.