How to Effectively Present a Quote Remotely for Success

Presenting quotes remotely was, just a few years ago, not common practice in the construction or renovation industry. Yet, given evolving habits and new technologies, this approach has become quite beneficial, for both contractors and customers alike. 

Today, homeowners are looking for quick and easy ways to plan home improvement projects, compare service offers, and make well-informed decisions without having to schedule another in-person meeting. For contractors, tailoring their practices to this new demand means optimizing their time, growing their customer base, and efficiently preapproving projects. 

While in-person walk-throughs are often a necessary part of the process, you can now get a summary of the costs and work commissioned by using digital tools. Discover how you can realistically create quotes while ensuring effective and professional communication with your customers.

3 Tips for Creating Free Remote Quotes

Nowadays, more and more customers prefer requesting remote quotes before hiring a contractor. Thanks to digital tools, homeowners can carry out a comparative analysis of project proposals right at home, on their own time, while benefiting from expert advice.

For renovation industry contractors, moulding their practices to this new way of doing things has many upsides. Issuing quotes remotely means growing their customer base, optimizing their time, and avoiding costly and time-consuming travel. By implementing this process in their everyday practices, they can better organize their workloads and speed up deal-closing procedures.

In the following sections, we’ll present a few tips and tricks for efficiently creating remote quotes, ensuring seamless communication and maximizing your chances of closing deals.

1) Leverage online tools

Source : Soumission Rénovation

In this day and age, communicating remotely is increasingly easy. Even if you’re halfway around the world, you can still manage to video chat with friends and others. In other words, if a prospective customer is on the other side of town, the lines of communication can be highly streamlined by digital tools. To further elaborate on this point, here are examples of useful tools. 

These tools can be used to present quotes:

• Phone (calls or text messages)

• Email

• Video call

• Videos shot by customers

• Photos

Video call apps are interesting tools, allowing you to assess the work commissioned by your customer. You get a live preview of what’s to repair or renovate. You can also ask your customer to aim the camera lens are specific parts or areas.

If you’re somewhat tech-savvy, you can even record calls for reference purposes later on. Some apps allow users to record their screen. You can activate this feature when dialling your customer.

Otherwise, you can simply proceed as you would during an in-person meeting, committing the information provided to memory or jotting it down.

Here’s a list of video call apps:

• Messenger

• Skype

• WhatsApp

• Google Meet

• Zoom

Most of these apps are free and some can be used for conference calls, which can be useful if you’re hoping to start a group call. 

As for emails, we suggest adding as many details as possible when communicating with prospective customers. Bear in mind when writing emails that communication might be a bit more challenging than usual, given that in-person meet-ups make dialogue easier, whereas, in writing, someone’s needs and intentions might be harder to decipher or put into words.

To avoid misunderstandings, take the necessary time to read over your message, ensuring it’s both clear and concise. Moreover, via email, you can easily send documents, photos, and videos—we’ll delve into this aspect later in the article. You can ask your customer to do so to help you draft a more detailed quote. 

As for regular phone calls, you can certainly proceed as such, given that not everyone has access to a smartphone. Once again, focus on transparency and communication. Make sure, now more than ever, that you fully understand the needs of the person hiring you. If possible, combine both phone calls and emails to maximize your communication efforts.

2) Request plans, photos, and blueprints

Source : Soumission Rénovation

Considering the situation at hand, customers will have to push up their sleeves and be more hands-on. You may have to ask your customers to measure some things, take pictures of others, provide you with material-related information, and draw up plans if possible.

Don’t hesitate to make your needs known to properly assess the job at hand. Doing so will only reassure your customer that you’re not cutting corners, can be trusted, and will start work as scheduled when you have all the information you need.

3) Effectively communicate work costs and details

Source : Soumission Rénovation

Many contractors ask us how best to present project costs to customers, yet they haven’t even done a walk-through. We stand with the fact that it’s hard to put an accurate figure on something that wasn't assessed in person. 

In such a case, it’s best to give your prospective customer a starting cost, while reminding them that said figure is subject to increase based on unexpected circumstances. 

If you set a total cost that may be altered, make sure that you have that in writing somewhere, in a mail-delivered contract or saved email. Moreover, write down all the important factors that were discussed (materials, project timeline, potential date, and everything else).

Check out our article for more guidelines: Calculating and Presenting Free Quotes to Clients.

When Should Technology Be Used to Create a Quote?

For most renovations, you can find ways to present a quote remotely. If it helps, you can see it as a quote created based on a blueprint for a new build.

Example 1: You’re a residential house painter and your prospective customer wants to have their living room repainted. You receive a project description, reach out to them via email, and agree to have a video call to further discuss details. During the call, the customer can aim their camera at all the nooks and crannies, and you can talk budget and preferred colours, and have them take measurements, right then and there.

Example 2: Consider yourself an excavation expert? If a customer reaches out to you with a French drain project, ask for as many details as possible and about any factors that may help you establish a price point. The house’s plan, square footage, and soil type-related information come to mind. 

Example 3: Are you a roofing expert? Some roofing professionals already have the habit of presenting quotes over the phone, especially if it’s a complete overhaul instead of a repair, which requires a careful situation assessment to establish a diagnosis. Ask for pictures and as much information as possible regarding measurements, materials, and roof shape.