19 Hilariously Accurate Client Red Flags - Benji Carlson

[@normanneff1896]

The "I love you" client. At the first meeting this person flirts with you. They express how much confidence they have in you: "I know you're going to do a great job!". Then, they call you frequently just to talk. They want YOU, not the Work. When you don't become their mate they get very angry! Run away at the first sign of this.

[@BreakthroughAcademy]

Hahaha. Norm, you must just be a heartthrob!!

[@poppyfairfield]

Micromanager types can be difficult

[@poppyfairfield]

Good list. Most of these types flee when I say “I use my own trades, for a reason, and it’ll take several weeks just for a proper rough estimate and when I begin you need to be covered by WCB and escorted by me to enter my site ”. The sticker shock of the first rough estimate weeds the rest out. The “I can do this myself” guy or “ASAP” guy are hard no’s.

[@BreakthroughAcademy]

Sounds like you don't waste time with tire kickers then! That's awesome. I think many frustrating hours of waste can be avoided with clear and firm client qualifying. You're not everyones contractor, and thats a good thing!

[@mattdallas2810]

This is absolute gold! I had client names and faces flashing through my mind the entire time!

[@BreakthroughAcademy]

Hopefully no memories that were TOO traumatic or painful lol 😬

[@mattdallasmusic]

@@BreakthroughAcademy I have a few that have left scars, but I’m still in the game 💪🏻

[@heritagegrower7249]

Regarding Deposit. What you should do is a contract outlining the defaults. This way if the client decides to cancel the job, they should pay the default as outlined in the contract. No-one should loose, that's why you do a contract that protects both sides. As a client, If you ask me for a deposit, then be prepared to provide me with your paperwork (insurance, licensing, and such) prior to transfer of funds.

[@jaydargert7937]

absolute gold and in 33 years of business I have met them all even the crazy dog person.

[@BreakthroughAcademy]

Glad you liked it. Did we miss any other red flags from your 33 years?

[@eschwarz1003]

excellent list that has broad application to many professions and life in general.

[@BreakthroughAcademy]

Glad you think so!

[@sabatinoconstruction]

This is AWESOME!!!

[@qqbqeilltqagoffq7070]

That's funny as Shit been self employed for a lookoonnnnggg time I had to listen to the list HOLY GRAIL YOUR SPOT ON

[@munterdesignbuild2475]

Weird dogs got me hahaha

[@BreakthroughAcademy]

It's totally a thing, right?

[@quinntonandrews7495]

I pulled out forms from an entire project after they changed the sizes 3 times, I told the guy he can explain to his wife why the work won't be getting done, he also had me quote 6 other houses the year prior which he had his guys do instead

[@stupka11]

This was very triggering. LOL and pretty funny.....(I'm with you on the dog thing)

[@BreakthroughAcademy]

Hahaha. Thanks for the comment. Keep an eye out for those weird dogs.

[@JustinBeller]

One other way to decipher the "No Questions" client is that they may have already made up their mind and they are just getting a quote from you to compare other quotes to. This might be the time to ask the following to the client: 1.) "Have you got other quotes for the project? You don't need to tell me from whom or how much, but have you got other quotes?" 2.) If you know your competition, what they do and what the use for materials, it would be a good opportunity to ask, "What do you understand about (x - competitor's product) versus (y - your product)?" You can then go into the primary differences. In the end, you might be surprised. If your prices are higher, but your workmanship and product is superior, you might get the job!

[@CurtisLawson]

These are great! Really all of them (except the weird dog!) really boil down to people asking you to move outside your process. Don’t do it!

[@mattdallas2810]

I've had a couple of weird dog situations, and they've turned out poorly.

[@BreakthroughAcademy]

If they are fluffy, small, and noisy there is a good chance things go south. Do you remember what happened in your case?

[@mattdallasmusic]

@@BreakthroughAcademy I had one Chihuahua chase up a stair case nipping at my heels when I was remodeling a few upstairs bathrooms. The dog chased me up the stairs every time I went up (which was frequent) and the owner didn’t seem to care or even try to retain him. Then we had a job out in the boonies and my helper was petting their Australian Shepard and got nipped in the chin. In retrospect, he may have gotten a little too friendly with the dog! 😂

[@elevationconstructiongroup3860]

How do you handle a client who asks you to break up material and labor?

[@BreakthroughAcademy]

Depends.... What type of contracting do you do primarily?

[@elevationconstructiongroup3860]

@@BreakthroughAcademy We do remodeling for apartment buildings. We do roofs, interior, and exterior.

[@gavinphx]

Realtors are the worst 90% of the time. And then there’s the piecemeal quote seekers. 😂

[@BreakthroughAcademy]

🤣

[@revisionedpainting6122]

#20. The client that texts texts you 30x a day with questions before even starting the project.

[@BreakthroughAcademy]

Haha. We're going to need a part 2 for this list. Neuroticism is the WORST!

[@gregm448]

Thanks for doing this video … the I don’t want to do a deposit .. because XYZ co burned me is common one … my reply is we have to buy materials specific to your project , engineering , permitting etc … if it makes you more comfortable … I can have materials delivered to your garage … still had a few that would not do deposit … offered them 12 Mod 0% told them if they want to pay cash they can cancel financing still not try that option … that’s when I said no thank you! Also the ….”I can do this myself but don’t have time “ Have one of those right now … she’s on back burner low priority to quote … lol I’m not wasting 2 hrs to do design and quote with someone like that …

[@BreakthroughAcademy]

The "we don't do deposits" one is really silly. And yes, definitely back burner the "I can do it myself" ones. What kind of business do you run?

[@teresastephens2642]

Cleint is living in a pig pen. I turn around and leave.

[@PrayWithUsNow]

If you take advice about your clients from some guy in a T-shirt, who looks like he just got out of bed, it is not going to go well for your business…