If you want to win more jobs from clients and keep them happy once the project is underway, you need to get serious about providing quotes and estimates.
Accuracy is vital in this context, so here’s a look at the different steps you can take to be as precise as possible with the figures you hand over when pitching.
Know Your Costs and Overhead
First and foremost, you must know your costs and overhead to give accurate estimates. Make sure to factor in the cost of materials, labor, equipment rental fees, insurance premiums, and other expenses that may be associated with the job or project. It is also important to include any applicable taxes or licensing fees as part of your quote or estimate.
This is not only useful for conjuring up accurate calculations but also for ensuring you’re able to maintain a margin of profitability that’s in line with your business goals.
Use a Professional Tool for Estimating Jobs
In today’s highly competitive construction industry, having the right tools and resources can make all the difference.
Utilizing an automated estimating tool is one of the best ways to ensure that you give your clients accurate quotes and estimates. Not only does it provide you with detailed cost breakdowns for each job or project, but it also allows you to quickly generate multi-project bids and contracts seamlessly.
Furthermore, these automated estimating tools help streamline administrative processes, so that more time can be spent on other aspects of running a successful business in construction, such as customer relationships management (CRM) and marketing activities.
Choosing reputable residential construction estimating software makes sense, so don’t settle for anything less.
Offer Flexible Options for Clients
Another thing to think about when quoting for a project is how the opportunity for flexibility will benefit clients, and help you meet their needs as well.
Providing them with different pricing structures depending on the size of their project, material costs, and even how long they intend on using your services can work wonders in terms of converting and retaining clients.
By giving customers a range of solutions, you can ensure that both parties are satisfied, allowing for an optimal working relationship. Better yet, this will help reduce the risk of costly discrepancies between estimated job costs and actual expenses due at the end of each project phase.
Communicate Accurately and Openly with Customers
Accuracy in quotes and estimates for construction projects isn’t just down to the research you do and the calculations you make. It also requires that the clients you serve are liberal with the info they provide, as that’s the only way to assess the true scope of what they want you to achieve on their behalf.
Before you submit any job or project quote, make sure to discuss all of its details with your client, from timelines and budgets to materials needed for the work. This will help ensure that everyone is on the same page, thus reducing potential errors along the way.
Then, when it comes time to sign off on a contract, remember honesty is always the best policy. Having an open dialogue, and respecting the other parties and stakeholders involved, will be better for everyone.
Final Thoughts
There’s much to be gained from prioritizing accuracy when quoting for construction jobs, both for your organization and for your clients. So while these tips might seem tough to implement at first, they’ll get easier and more intuitive with time, and lead to better outcomes for every project you take on.
