domestic energy assessors
DEA's Not Playing Ball
in
Within my local area I have gained a good name due to the efficeint and proffesional service I provide to several estate agents and solicitors.
However, a local firm for whom i used to work showed some desperation and contacted all my clients undercutting my fees by half!!!
Now i know we all need to make a living but surely this is just not acceptable from fellow dea's, is it? Can I name and shame?
Luckily for me I pleaded my case and reduced my fees slightly to keep my clients on board but this is not the point.
Surley we have enough fights on our hands without having to play fisty cuffs with oneanother? What do you think? Should I just forget about it (until they try again) or is there anything I can do?
Comments
DEA pricewars
Anyone can do a HIPs Pack the public can and do their own packs.
When are all the DEA assessors going to wake up to the fact without the EPC certificate they cannot complete the pack?
You have a self worth. All stick together and refuse to get into this price war.
Who are all of these so called panels who pick and choose whether you can be signed up? They need your expertise and your certificates and you are constantly being told, reduce, reduce, reduce.
It is not good enough, you have to unite. You have your licence, be proud.
You have worked hard for your licence. Make it work for you and go out and make it count, you deserve it.
Do not forget these panels need you more than you need them.
So, go on and increase, increase, increase, no more cut price EPCs
Good luck good wishes to you all in this rat race.
DEA's Not Playing Ball!
Cheap DEAs
DEA's Not Playing Ball!
A forty mile round trip for less than £40 is plain stupid. Do these people know how to run their finances, have they convieniently forgotten about the tax they'll have to pay at the end of the year? They could be earning double what they are now for working half as hard.
A company responded to a quote I gave them last week offering work if I HALVED my price per EPC and agreed to 30 day payment terms. I wont because they'll probably take the same cut in commssion, no saving will be made by the end customer.
Business longevity
Yes I couldn't agree more. In the case of landlord 10 year certificates we'll see no repeat business from this until we're all older and greyer. You don't see the Corgi gas guys dropping their fees for a 1 year certificate and they don't have to pay a Landmark fee like us - in fact I pay at least £35 for my gas safety checks without batting an eye lid. We offer a similar service, so a 10 year certificate should be £350!
When the £30 DEAs realise they can earn more cutting grass for the neighbours, prices will level out at more sensible levels. MOT's at £10? I can't find where, Gas Safety Cert at £5 - doesn't exist, but it would do if they didn't know how to run a business for longer than 6 months!
So don't be so easily bartered down by shrewd agents/landlords - they may sound convincing with the 'I've been quoted less' but stick to a reasonable quote and you'll see that it's a good phone manner & professional appearance which get remembered, not the fee.
When I was an estate agent many moons ago, My competitiors and I made a gentleman's agreement to not drop below 1%. This lasted well, surprisingly well and we all benefitted. That is of course until a newcomer came and lost fees for everyone at 0.5 % & quickly got one of the worst customer service reputations in the area. 1% returned after a while!
Think long term and do a good job.
Steve Johnson
Tel: 07866 022380
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