Best Sell Story

So about two years ago I'm driving towards the end of a gravel road to bid a tearoff. On my way there I noticed that the local municipality had started a little fire(5' diameter smoker) of leaves and dirt to get rid of some debris in a ditch. I thought nothing of it. When I get to the homeowners house, everything goes good. I really liked the dude personally, but he's a smart guy and is really doing his homework. He asked me if I had thieves or baby rapers on the crew, naturally I respond "not saying some aren't semi-heathens, but I've got no bad guys" in a joking manner. I gave him the bid and felt good about it but he wanted to check some prices with other crews. I leave hoping to get a call back later on.

Driving about 1/2 mile down his gravel road I come upon that little "smoker" - It's got leaves burning 35' along the road and about 10' deep!! I pull over and jump out trying to knock out the fire. I called the guy and tell him that his woods are on fire. His disbelief was kind of funny. He comes boogeyin down there in his Jaguar, realizes how out of control it is and drives back to get rakes. Meanwhile, I've been stomping this fire out w/ all I've got. I was kicking leaves inward and making serious headway, except that the surrounding leaves where so dry that the fire would jump and spread w/ incredible ease! I was exhausted, and very warm, but not giving up. He came back w/ the tools and then a neighbor came to help. We got it under control in about 15 minutes and then the firemen came.

After we got done laughing about it, he looked at me and said "well you've earned it now! You got the job!" and shook my hand.

Roofguy: That must have felt great to show an old cocky man how to do it! Arrogance gets you nowhere.

woody: That is wild. We did a couple of roofs for a major drug dealer and ended up having to go through a bunch of BS w/ the IRSuck for it. You never know who your working for...

Here's another good story: I was chasing a leak at this blind lady's house. She was mid 30's fairly attractive, but never having seen her before, it was hard to read her emotions. She he noted that she was very ill when I got there. Anyhow, after looking all around and then inspecting her attic for traces of water, I came down to find her lying on her bed w/ her eyes closed. She greeted me when I came down and asked if I found anything, to which I replied not really. I can come by sometime when it's actively leaking blah blah blah... and then "do you need any help" I say. She replied: Nah.

So I say goodbye and leave, not hearing from her again for a few weeks. Shortly after I left she realized that she was having a heart attack which sent her into ICU for over a week. I couldn't believe it! Next time I'll jokingly throw out a "should I call an ambulance". Long story short, the gutter was clogged! :blink:

About a month ago, I went to look at one and even at 2 stories, I said "I believe your leak is right there." She said that area had been repaired and the leak was to the side. We went insdie and the stain was right where I had figured.

She hurumphed and said the last roofer was from a large company with lots of credentials, stickers, banners, labels, etc, etc. "What do you have?"

"Nothing Ma'am. I'm just a roofer and the one htat will do the work too."

"Well, that's good enough for me. Do it and send me the bill."

Some years back, I went to do an estimate. I got called back there 4-5 more times to answer more questions by this inquisitive lady. She was comparing note and quotes from 4-5 companies.

My last trip, I just cut to the chase. " Look Lady, if I do this roof, come hell or high water it's not going to leak!

loooong pause....., then.........

On the other hand, if it rains, you better call somebody in a hurry!" :woohoo: :blink:

After a long pause, she asked " Are you so cinfident that you can joke like that???"

I said "Sure am!"

Her--"That's good enough for me. When can you start?"

Last week I had the LOH holding the gate while I tried to work a ladder into her yard. Really awkward place to manuever. I told her to watch out, but if I did manage to wang her one, to just tell hubby I was helping him out by making required adjustments. :blink: " Do what??" I said "Sure, women are like cars. Sometimes you have to hit the carburator with a hammer so it'll do what you want it to do. Women are the same way, you just have to wang them on the head every now and then." :woohoo:

She asked if that worked with my wife, and I said it doesn't sem to be and she hits back sometimes.

I got the job. :)

Roofguy Said: That was a good selling story. Heres mine:

In the 1980s my little roofing company was bidding on reroofing the Post ISD school buildings after a baseball sized hailstorm. I showed up at the bid opening and asked permission to address the school board before they opened the bids. I told them: Gentlemen, my company would love to do your roofing work but I have declined to bid this project because what your insurance adjuster paid you for, and the scope of your specifications is far less than the damage that is on your roofs.

The large 100 year old+ roofing company out of Lubbock had their owner there, and he was used to always winning these big plum school jobs. He laughed, told the school board I didnt know what I was talking about, and assured the board that they had been paid enough by their insurance company.

I sensed it all slipping away quickly and had to think fast...I stood back up and told the board: Ill tell you what Ill do. You have your insurance company send the adjuster back out, and Ill look at the roofs with him this time, and my competitor here is welcome to be there too. It will delay the bid opening a maximum of 2 weeks to do this, and Ill guarantee you that I can get you at least an additional $50,000 from the adjuster. If I dont get you another $50k Ill have egg on my face and Ill walk away and agree not to bid this work. But if I do get you the money, I expect you to give my company a fair shot at this contract.

Despite my competitors desperate pleas to reject this, one school board member said: Hey, what do we have to lose by getting the adjuster back out?

The adjuster came back out on a Saturday and we walked every building with me making my case for more damage than hed initially paid for. I got Post ISD an additional $120,000...guess who got the contract? :)

Incidently, the adjuster and I then became friends and he later became my flight instructor.

Solid!