It’s 10pm at night and you’ve got a pile of paperwork overflowing on your office desk at home.
You’re shattered after a busy day at work and all you want to do is sit down and watch Gogglebox on TV before sloping off to bed because you’ve got to be up and on site at the crack of dawn the next day.
But, at the back of your mind you know you’re running behind with your quotes and you’ve had a few client’s email chasing up work which you know you should have priced weeks ago.
Surely it won’t matter if you tell them you’ll get back to them at the weekend?
Well, actually it does.
The longer it takes to compile your quotes, the more harm it will do your business. As well as looking unprofessional and inefficient, leaving clients waiting for a quote will mean they immediately have a negative impression of you. And it may mean you lose the work – even if you do quote a fair price.
If quoting is starting to become stressful it can help by getting organised
Why not start preparing a quote when you’re surveying the job? If you make adequate notes on materials, and discuss the use of subcontractors when you’re there, you won’t need to make any assumptions because the information will be fresh in your mind. Remembering to ask to see the client’s plans and drawings will also save you hassle in the long run.
Bashing out a quote on a word document will be time-consuming. Using an estimating software package, like Easy Estimate, means your quote will be presented well and will be easy for the client to understand. Easy Estimate have a range of templates to use for builders, electricians, plumbers, painters and carpenters so it couldn’t be easier. And all for £9.99 a month!
Fortunately, with Easy Estimate you no longer have to keep a database of past quotes on a single laptop or computer because you will have instant access to this information on any internet enabled device. This will enable you to quickly create similar jobs in moments – which means pricing for work is much easier and much more efficient than before.
Being knowledgeable about prices will keep customers happy
Knowing your prices is key for getting an accurate quote. Materials and subcontractors all vary widely on the size of a job, so if a client has asked for a fixed price make sure the prices you are using are up-to-date.
Most builders send quotes via email these days and it’s what your client will expect. To save you even more time, Easy Estimate also creates a basic covering letter for each job which is easy to integrate into your quote so it looks professional and creates the right impression as soon as the email pings into their inbox.
Give us your feedback on how Easy Estimate helps you manage your workload by emailing our team at info@estimatingforcontractors.com. We look forward to hearing from you.