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Stop Wasting Time on Clients Who Aren’t the Right Fit for Your Outdoor Living Business w/ Kevin Scott

⏱️ 36:50 🎤 Joshua Gillow, Kevin Scott
AUDIO EPISODE
Stop Wasting Time on Clients Who Aren’t the Right Fit for Your Outdoor Living Business w/ Kevin Scott
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Chapters

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  • 0:00
    The Value of Likability
    Kevin Scott highlights that delivering beyond expectations and being likable are crucial for building client trust and securing business.
  • 1:42
    Muskoka Landscapers Overview
    Host Joshua Gillow introduces Kevin Scott, who shares details about his company's 18 years in business, average project size, and over $10 million in revenue for 2024.
  • 4:25
    Client Sales Process
    Kevin details the client journey from initial contact to site visits, emphasizing understanding client needs and showcasing previous projects to manage expectations.
  • 8:29
    Programming and Design Process
    Kevin explains their 'welcome package' with programming options and how they streamline the design process by showing clients similar projects to align expectations and budget.
  • 11:51
    Handling Design and Pricing
    Kevin discusses their transition to a separate landscape architectural company (Vast) for design, offering a three-phase approach from conceptualization to advanced rendering.
  • 21:26
    The Estimate Presentation Strategy
    Kevin reveals their strategy of presenting estimates via Zoom call before sending them, explaining each item and managing client expectations to improve closing rates.
  • 29:40
    Importance of Active Listening
    Both Kevin and Joshua stress that active listening is the most crucial skill in sales, enabling contractors to understand client problems and offer tailored solutions.
  • 36:25
    Post-Project Follow-Up
    Kevin describes their unique post-project follow-up, including a final walkthrough, punch list, and a one-year follow-up visit to maintain client relationships and generate referrals.
  • 43:04
    Sales Challenges and Market Shifts
    Kevin discusses current sales challenges like keeping the funnel full amidst market uncertainty and advises newer businesses to develop robust sales processes, as the 'order-taking' era is over.

Speakers

J
Joshua Gillow
Host
K
Kevin Scott
Muskokaa landscapers

Key Takeaways

Prioritize active listening to understand client needs deeply, rather than immediately offering solutions, to build trust and increase closing rates.

Implement a 'welcome package' with programming options to gather client preferences early and educate them on possibilities, setting the stage for a smoother design process.

Take prospective clients on-site visits to similar completed projects to help them visualize what their investment can achieve and manage budget expectations before design begins.

Present estimates via a live Zoom call to walk clients through line by line, explain costs, and address questions, rather than simply emailing, to prevent sticker shock and improve comparison.

Ensure quick turnaround times for estimates, especially for smaller projects, as speed can significantly increase the likelihood of closing a deal.

Invest in high-quality visual content (website, Instagram, renderings) to build confidence and showcase your work, differentiating your company in a competitive market.

Implement a one-year post-project follow-up visit to proactively address minor issues and gather feedback, which significantly enhances client satisfaction and drives referrals.

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