Tips to getting a great response on your job!
If you've ever posted a job with Service Central, you know that it's easy. Too easy, some cynics might think! But occasionally you'll not receive a response. There are lots of reasons why, and most of them can be prevented by posting the best job possible! Here are some things to watch out for, tips and tricks to make your job attractive and get the best response possible.
- Include lots of detail: Think about what you would ask or be asked if you phoned someone from that book propping up your computer screen - put yourself in the shoes of the person doing the job, and then answer as many questions as possible. If you don't know the answer, don't worry - just do your best!
- Make a good job summary: What are the most important points about the job? Don't worry about words like 'the' or 'and', how soon you want it done, or where it is. Just put the key details in. This is the main info (along with time frame, suburb and category) that goes out via SMS to our registered businesses, so make it count.
- Include a reasonable price range: Sure, no one wants to get taken for a lot when the job should only cost a little, but remember that this price range is just an estimate, and is only used to match you to the best type of business. If it's a big job, you need someone who can manage a big job - so underestimating the cost will match you to the wrong type! Our registered businesses are registered, insured and licenced so you should have some peace of mind, and remember that you'll be getting 2 or more quotes from Service Central, so you'll be able to compare prices later anyway.
- Include a reasonable time frame: We know that you can't really have an urgent pergola, but we do know that you could be really excited about the pergola and want the quote quickly! You'll definitely get quotes quickly by posting a job through Service Central, but marking a job as 'urgent' can sometimes deter businesses that are too busy to take on new work. Overflowing toilets and no power however - they are urgent jobs and businesses who do that type of work are used to reacting quickly so you're likely to have a quote and it fixed within hours!
- Include at least 2 contact numbers: At least 5% of the jobs we send to our registered businesses have the wrong phone numbers included, so make sure they can get through to you. If you're too busy to return their call, SMS to let them know you'll call when you're able, or give them a better time to call.
- Ask for the right amount of quotes: If you only want one person for your emergency job, only ask for one. If you want two or more, request them and make sure you give all the businesses that respond the opportunity to quote. Competition is the basis of why Service Central works for you as a consumer! If you want another one later, you'll be able to ask for another one with a click of a button.
- Think about what kind of business you want to quote: For your bathroom reno job, do you want a plumber who'll do all the plumbing so that you can do the tiling, waterproofing and painting? Or do you want a renovator who will do it all? Or perhaps you want a plumber and a tiler, but you're not sure if you need one kind of person or two, and whether you'll get businesses who can work together - never fear, if you post the two jobs with the same time frame, you're likely to get responses from businesses who are able to do the work at the same time.
That should help you with any of your job posting questions, but remember that there are answers to your specific questions on our handy FAQ's page, and more information about all of the services offered in our library.
