Cooing at five in the morning
Eight months after install, a customer rings. Pigeons have moved in under the array. There is mess on the patio, noise in the morning and nesting material around the edge of the panels. They want to know whether this is something you should have prevented and whether it is covered.
The office books an engineer to look. The engineer confirms pigeons, and says bird mesh needs fitting, which needs access and a quote. A second visit is booked. Meanwhile the customer has rung twice and left a review mentioning 'pigeon problems'.
Why pigeon calls keep arriving
- Bird mesh was not offered at quote stage, or was mentioned in passing and not priced.
- Customers do not know it is a common issue until it happens.
- Nobody records which homes declined mesh, so the conversation starts from scratch.
- The first visit is only to look, because nobody asked for photos first.
- Access needs, such as scaffold or a platform, are only discovered on the visit.
What pigeon callbacks cost
Engineer visits that produce nothing but a quote. Unplanned work squeezed between installs. Awkward conversations about whether it should have been included. Reviews that mention birds rather than your install. And, where birds are left for a long time, cleaning and extra work that make the job bigger.
Bird protection handled at both ends
- At quote stage, bird mesh appears as a clear, priced option, with a short explanation in your wording of why some homes need it.
- The customer's choice is recorded against the job, so it is known later.
- Survey notes that suggest birds are likely, such as existing nesting nearby, prompt the salesperson to raise it.
- After install, customers reporting birds use a short form or text link: photos of the array edges, where they see birds, when it started.
- The office sees the photos and the job record, including whether mesh was offered and declined, and prices proofing from your price book.
- The customer receives the quote and can book a slot, with access needs noted from the original survey.
- The visit is one trip: proofing fitted, photos taken, job record updated.
Anything about wildlife rules around active nests, and when work can be done, is for your team to check. The flow simply stops a slot being offered where your rules say to wait.
Where the time goes
| Step | Today | With the flow |
|---|---|---|
| At quote | Mesh mentioned or not | Priced option, choice recorded |
| Customer reports birds | Phone call | Form with photos |
| First visit | Look and measure | Not needed in most cases |
| Quote | After the visit | From the photos and price book |
| Fitting | Second visit | The only visit |
Fewer trips for the same result
Customers choose bird protection knowingly at the start. Those who declined and later need it get a quick quote without a wasted trip. Engineers visit once. Your records show what was offered, which makes the 'should this have been included' conversation straightforward. And bird proofing becomes a small, planned piece of work rather than an interruption.
Why a clear option helps the sale too
Some installers worry that raising birds at quote stage puts people off. In practice, a short, matter-of-fact line with a price tends to reassure, because it shows you have thought about life with the panels after installation. Customers who decline it have made an informed choice, which makes any later conversation calmer.
Are pigeons costing you visits?
- Customers ring about birds under panels after install.
- Bird mesh is not a clear option on your quotes.
- You visit just to look before quoting for proofing.
- You cannot tell whether mesh was offered to a customer.