How to deal with this kind of client?

[glorybound]

you are too cheap and too high

Now, that's funny

[hoppergrass]

you are too cheap and too high

which begs the question, is it better to be too cheaply high or too highly cheap?

[Syu_z]

We’ll, I am flattered!

Yes, I quote each project separately. I think the low flat fee tells the potential client that you are commoditizing your services and it’s not personal and they will not get a personalized service. I quote on a per diem. I know what I need to make a day and I multiple how many days it’ll take me to complete the project. My per diem has been set by doubling the hourly rate of someone with my skill at the studio in the nearest largest city. I double it because they get insurance, retirement, vacation, sick days... For me, a ‘typical’ exterior house is around $900 and if they want the back, it’s another $480. Now, that goes a lot higher for a larger more complex structure. My daily rate is $480 and a ‘typical’ project like this will take me about three days.

I am being transparent, which is rare in our industry. I will get a ton of PM’s telling me I am too cheap and just as many telling me that I am too high

Thank you for your transparency. That's a pretty detailed breakdown. I don't know if it's too high or too low because honestly, the price vary quite wildly in the industry. I will take your advice to heart and work on the things you mentioned. Thank you once again.

EDIT: To add on, it's quite a dilemma working in the low-end market. You will always have people trying to personalize their interior to a great extent, which I understand, but it's just not worth the cost, so balancing those has been difficult. The designers always want to please the homeowners, and ask us to amend many times over, and are not actually paying the amendment fee because 'I don't do this often, how can you charge me? Haven't we work together for a while by now?' This response is so annoying to me because just like someone said earlier(could've been you), if they want it cheap, they have less respect for your ability. They just want it cheaper and cheaper.
Which is why I want to take my skill to the highest level, and start charging premium fee. Have had about enough of this market.

[flino2004]

short reply. "you are fired as a potential client....thank you for making me laught"

[glorybound]

The idea of not paying for change is lame. What other industry doesn't charge for change? I mean, I build some room for a couple of changes, but other than that, I charge for changes. I'll charge, or chose not too, but I let them know that I am forgiving the charge. I just finished the gray scale for a house and the architect changed the front entry, asked what it'll cost to change, and I told her the price. Most of my clients don't assume I work for free. Having said that, some do, and it angers me. Double your hourly rate for change and let them know that upfront. This discourages poor behavior and abusive if your valuable time.

[glorybound]

short reply. "you are fired as a potential client....thank you for making me laught"

I don't understand? Don't you pre-qualify potential clients? If you have 20 leads sitting there and 3 say, "I want something good, cheap, and fast", wouldn't you disqualify them? I am nice about it, but a lead that starts like that is a major red flag.

[flino2004]

my potential clients come from clients, so they already know the price.....but, If for any reason I get one of those and they sent me an email with a number that makes me mad I reply the email sarcastically polite to rejecting them.

[Syu_z]

The idea of not paying for change is lame. What other industry doesn't charge for change? I mean, I build some room for a couple of changes, but other than that, I charge for changes. I'll charge, or chose not too, but I let them know that I am forgiving the charge. I just finished the gray scale for a house and the architect changed the front entry, asked what it'll cost to change, and I told her the price. Most of my clients don't assume I work for free. Having said that, some do, and it angers me. Double your hourly rate for change and let them know that upfront. This discourages poor behavior and abusive if your valuable time.

Yes, it's quite infuriating really. Certainly, I very much agree with the perspective of not letting yourself be trampled upon by the clients.

I do think you need to have a strong list of repeat clients though to be able to do that, or a very good lead generator. If it doesn't affect your bottom line too much, you definitely can afford to lose a few disrespectful clients. Hence why I am working on building a strong portfolio, having a professional website, and being able to turn most leads into jobs.

[glorybound]

Just don't put too many eggs in one basket. I can't tell you how many people that reached out to me looking for work because their one big client stopped sending them work. I have had several large architectural firms call and ask if I can be their exclusive illustrator, sending me 2-3 projects a month. I said that I would love to quote anything they send, but I would not be exclusive. Always look for work even if you are busy, If you are not busy, look for work like you are.

[OPEN_RANGE]

Always look for work even if you are busy,

Bobby, Can you offer suggestions or examples of how you look for work?

Here is an old formula I'm sure many are familiar with but in case it may help. Cost-Quality-Schedule / Pick 2

If you want good quality and need it fast it will cost more. If you need it fast and want it cheep it will be lower quality. (doesn't always work but you get the idea)

My friend has a window washing business. His trucks say SAFE - COURTEOUS - RELIABLE. Our add on tag line for him is "Pick 1".

[glorybound]

Exterior renderings and architectural photorealistic rendering. I am #1 on Google, so I get a couple leads a day. Plus a few more key keyphrases.

[piotrus3333]

sorry for a bit of a off-topic:
good news for low end market - twinmotion is now free in its current state. perfect tool for 10-views-a-day business model.

[JezUK]

2 days ago, i received a new client request, after i sent my quotation with a price for example: RM4,000 per angle view, the client reply and say they can only pay RM300 per angle view, what will you do or deal with this kind of client?

Forget them and move on.

[Richard7666]

He offered you three-thousand after you quoted four-thousand...or he offered three *hundred*?
Please tell me that is a typo! If not, that's very cheeky of him and he'd make a terrible client.

[Richard7666]

Just don't put too many eggs in one basket. I can't tell you how many people that reached out to me looking for work because their one big client stopped sending them work. I have had several large architectural firms call and ask if I can be their exclusive illustrator, sending me 2-3 projects a month. I said that I would love to quote anything they send, but I would not be exclusive. Always look for work even if you are busy, If you are not busy, look for work like you are.

Yeah if that's the case, they can offer you a fulltime job. If they can't afford to do that, then they can't ask for you to be exclusive.