On November 29, 2017 at 16:15, osiris said...
You should never ask them for a budget- because, as you said, they have no idea.
Your first consultation with them should be to discuss the various options, show them pictures of similar projects to what they are after, and YOU should be telling them what these things cost. Then, you say "based on what you are telling me, a system to deliver what you are after is going to cost about $X". Then, you shut up and let them talk next.
If their jaw drops, then you have just found out that their budget is much less than it should be, and you can part ways without spending any more of your time.
If they are comfortable near the price you specified, you can collect your deposit and start engineering their system.
That's exactly how I do it. I educate them on what similar system to what they've asked for cost and then charge for design and move on from there.
But I agree with you about them getting shy at a certain price point . Had a lady just this week that wanted me to do what I did at her neighbours house. Complicated (labour intensive) TV install with equipment located upstairs in a closet. But she wanted to add a HEOS 5.1 system. Even knowing what her neighbour paid and with me educating her on the cost of the HEOS system prior to doing the design, she was still shocked and wound up walking. I got paid for the design so nothing lost for me, but I'm not sure what people expect all this stuff to cost.
Craig
