The race to the bottom.

Last Thursday morning, I got a call from someone asking if I “did drafting services.” The phrasing raised red flags, but since English wasn’t his first language, I decided to hear him out.

He wanted a subdivision plan for a 20,000sqm property in Traralgon, zoned residential, and was looking for a price. It quickly became clear he didn’t understand what he needed. He didn’t know the zoning type or the subdivision process.

I gave him a rough estimate of $1,500 for an outline plan. After a long pause, he said he had an urgent call and would speak to his business partner. I followed up with texts and a sample of our work—same response: "I'll get back to you."

I’ve seen this before—he won’t be back. The price likely scared him off, but more so, he checked out once I explained what’s involved. He wanted expert work done cheaply, without regard for the time, research, or cost required.

People like this undervalue professional services. They expect quality on the cheap, but good work takes time and expertise. It's a mindset problem, and unfortunately, it's becoming common.

We won’t join the “race to the bottom.” Competing on price alone is a losing game. Clients who expect high standards for low fees are chasing unsustainable outcomes. As one of my mentors said, “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten.”

Culturally, things are shifting. Politicians promise solutions but tie things up in regulation, social media is flooded with stories of scams and poor service, and businesses suffer from bad reviews—often justified, sometimes not. It’s a difficult landscape to navigate.

In short: pay a fair price for good work. Costs are rising. Accept it and adjust expectations. Quality comes at a cost—and it's worth it.

Signing off,

Revell