Some customers will judge a book by its cover

Tree care company professionalism

Imagine for a second you’re the customer.

One contractor shows up for a bid in a beat-up truck pulling a trailer of ragged equipment. He gets out and has dirty clothes and uncombed hair. And when he talks with you, it’s obvious that what he gets out of the job — namely, the paycheck — is more important to him than what you want to accomplish.

Then the next person shows up. He has a clean truck with his company’s name on it. You can tell at a glance that his equipment is taken care of. He is dressed professionally, and when talking, he keeps asking about your goals for the project.

Who would you hire?

Even if an estimate is competitive, some people don’t get past first impressions, and looks can be a deciding factor. Here are four ways to boost your professionalism.

Look good

No one expects a contractor to be in a suit and tie. But you and your crew should be presentable. Again, put yourselves in the customer’s shoes. Would you hire you? Would you want your crew working at your mother’s house?

Keeping hair and facial hair well-groomed when working and wearing clothes and gear that are in good condition help make an overall good impression.

Equipment should look good, too

Equipment also makes an impression. Bud Clark knows this well, as the owner of a tree service that operates in upscale communities north of Chicago.

His equipment and vehicles display his company’s logo and have nice paint jobs modeled after Vermeer yellow. Customers have noticed.

“I don’t doubt that our work speaks for itself, but also, when we show up at somebody’s yard, they’re not embarrassed there are trucks there doing work,” Clark says. “We look like a reputable company doing good work for our clients.”

Equipment quality matters

Your stump grinders, brush chippers and other equipment don’t just have to look good. Quality also matters. Your productivity and efficiency on one job can lead to customer referrals and future work.

You may also win the business of other professionals. Brannen Yutzy runs a stump grinding company with his father in Florida. Most of their work comes from tree service companies. He says their 110-horsepower (82 kW) Vermeer SC1152 stump cutter makes an impression.

“The advantage we provide to tree services is that we have a stump grinder bigger than they can afford a lot of times,” Yutzy says. “Because of the size of the grinder, we’re able to get in there and get the job done quickly.”

Choose words carefully

In addition to your appearance, consider how you talk to customers. Be articulate, avoid jargon and be clear. Make sure they know exactly what you plan to do and the estimated cost. A good experience may turn them into a repeat customer and earn you referrals.

This article contains third-party observations, advice or experiences that do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Vermeer Corporation, its affiliates or its dealers. Advice or suggestions provided in this article are statements of general applicability that may or may not apply to individual businesses, whose circumstances and operations may vary.

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