When a an uncomfortable situation develops between a client and your company its best to just play the politician and grind through the job to get it behind you.
Always get work in writing so that it is clear what you are doing and for how much. Disputes almost always happen when there is not a clear understanding of the work being performed. Remember that communication is the key to success! Be upfront and most importantly be honest! and you will never have a problem.
I believe if there is an uncomfortable feeling or the client and the company do not match, its best to part ways rather than risking a reputation on a bad review.
Its really as simple as Just trusting your instincts. If something is telling you something is not right about a person there is a reason for it. You should be bold and blunt; but in a respectful, professional way. After all, This is your business and you need to take full responsibility and accountability for what happens in present time and what arises in the future of your company.
I agree. Your gut is always the best judge for this problem.
I always ask myself one question if I get that feeling. “Am I 100% positive I can make this person a very happy customer”
My father used to say that the best job he ever got was the ones he turned away. It’s hard to turn away work and expensive. But, if your in this for the long run you have to keep protect yourself from customers that you think just will not be happy with your work.
After all, that’s what working for a customer is all about.
Often its just a gut feeling. we recently had a client who wanted to spend over $425k on a home but then wanted to micro manage the build, changing methods and materials for what he had read were ‘better’…BTW he was an engineer !!!
I always have at least three meetings, and frequently more, with a potential client to discuss their project, expectations and budget before submitting a budget and final contract. Regardless of how I feel about them, and as a matter of the normal course of doing business, I do a Google search and, most importantly, a County court record search to see if the potential client has been involved in a number of lawsuits. Overly litigious folks tend to be those who threaten and sue first, instead of communicate, compromise and resolve.
Recently, I had a bit of a bad feeling about a client who seemed to know-it-all about everything, so I checked the County court records and found out he was involved with eighteen (18) law suits in the previous five years, all against contractors who had worked on his existing home. I declined to submit a final bid, but know the builder who got the job, which has been his biggest nightmare.
A County court record search is free, easy and can save you from a potentially horrible situation.
Hope this helps!