Some contractors think that by cutting their prices or running specials it will bring them more business. While that may be true, what they don't realize is the damage that it often does to their business at the same time.

Here are 5 reasons you should never cut your prices:

1. You set the standard for future rates. People don't remember specials, they remember what they paid and the amount they paid is what they tell their friends.

2. Existing customers may think that if you can lower your price now, you must have been over charging them before

3. You have no room for error so when a mistake happens you have no buffer to cover it and you lose money

4. You have no room for the unexpected. When the unexpected occurs, like flat tires, accidents, traffic, customers that change their mind, or unexpected damage or surprises, you also have no buffer and lose money.

5. You start a price war with your competitors and there will always be some ignorant individual that would rather do it for nothing and go out of business than let someone else have the job.

Look at this clip from the Nashville business Journal:

"Cracker Barrel made $14.4 million in last quarter, up more than 20 percent from a year earlier. By comparison, Nashville-based O'Charley's lost $4.3 million, blaming its troubles in part on its recession-inspired value menu. O'Charley's CEO Jeff Warne resigned a few weeks later."

The primary reason for their success? Not cutting prices!

The Benefits of a Professionally Written Resume

by: Debbie Panell

If you think a professional resume is only for Office Managers, Accountants and CEO’s, you are dead wrong. If you have been sending out your resume for weeks or months on end, and have not had much of a response, chances are your resume is to blame. Even though you may have read, re-read, written and re-written your resume and had friends and relatives look it over as well. But still no calls. Most people don't realize their resume is either mediocre or far worse. Why is that? Really, the answer is simple. Just as I could not wire a new light in my kitchen, most people are not resume writers. I don’t have the skills to play with electricity, and you and your friends don’t have the skills and experience necessary to differentiate a bad resume from a great one.

This is exactly why there are professional resume writers.

Every week you are unemployed, another $500 to $1000 (or more!) in take home pay is lost. So if the normal job hunt length is 3 months, the financial loss is $6,000 to $12,000. Keep in mind that right now, the average search time can be 6 months to a year! The longer you are unemployed, the more money you lose- from your earnings, to your savings account and to your credit card debt!

A high quality professionally written resume and cover letter can change all that. Even if you have already experienced financial loss, it can start to be reversed by getting you back to work ASAP. Getting interviews is difficult right now. If your resume and cover letter do not fit the position to a 'T', the Hiring Manager will not look at it for more than 7 seconds. That’s right-7 SECONDS. Then it goes to the trash can. It stands to reason if you want to dramatically improve your chances of getting hired, your resume must provide a positive first impression to employers. Your resume MUST catch their eye and distinguish you from the competition!

A Professional Resume Writer knows how to format your resume style and appearance (yes, appearance is important- no matter your industry!) and content to emphasize your positive attributes and qualifications and minimize your weaknesses! They can tailor the resume to your desired job descriptions and industry and know how to make you shine! They can capture the attention of the hiring manager and keep them reading past the average 7 second resume scan! They will ask questions, whether over the phone or in a questionnaire, that get past your 'job duties' and focus on your VALUE to employers.

You can have all the skills, talents and abilities in the world but if you don't get the interviews you are stuck. When you compare the average cost of a professional resume at $150 to the cost of your lost wages for 3 months, hiring a professional to write your resume and cover letter makes sense. It is an investment in your career and in your future. Just as you pay for licensing and continuing education for your career, hiring a professional resume writer is also an investment in your career. The sooner you hire a professional resume writer, the quicker you will go back to work! Do not waste precious time (remember time is money) and wait 3-6 months before you discover that you are not getting a response from your resume!

As a special offer to ElectricSmart.com members, FishBowlResume is offering a discount. ElectricSmart members will receive $45 off a resume or a resume/ cover letter package. This makes your investment $75 for a resume or $105 for a resume AND cover letter- all tailored to your job history, your career ambitions and the job positions you are interested in applying for. Simply enter the coupon code ‘ELECTRIC’ when you checkout on the website. www.fishbowlresume.com

I remember going to a service call a number of years back that turned into a real hassle for me. A woman called and told me that her kitchen switch wasn't working. All of my men were out and the house was right around the corner so I told her I could come over in about 30 minutes. She said it was fine but if no one answered the door just walk in, the kitchen was to the right; she would probably be upstairs getting ready to go out.

I arrived on time, rang the bell and knocked on the door but no one answered. As instructed I opened the door but instead of walking in, I just put my head in an yelled "Hello" Still no answer, But.... I heard talking coming from the kitchen. I walked in closer to the kitchen and yelled hello a little louder, She came out from the kitchen pantry, welcomed me and showed me the switch. I replaced it, collected our fee and was on my way.

Three days later I had a sheriff show up at my office asking me questions. It seems that this woman was missing her silverware and said the it must have been me since I just walked right in.

After giving my statement, being interviewed for an hour and then having to go back to sign my statement, I finally said enough already, Give me a lie detector test or arrest me. I am the owner of the company and make a very good living and have no need for a few hundred dollars worth of silverware.

They let it go

I will now NEVER go into a home without someone being there, nor will I send an employee into an empty home. Had it been one of my men instead of me, I might have been looking at the suspiciously from that day forward and so would the police.

My policy is that if I have to be there, a homeowner needs to be there as well.

Anyone else have similar stories?