Calculating and Presenting Free Quotes to Clients

Feeling intimidated at the thought of writing a renovation quote for a potential or loyal client? RenoQuotes.com has a few tips on how to prepare an estimate and how to present it to your clients.

Before a client hires you to carry out a renovation project, you, first and foremost, must provide them with a detailed quote (most often free of charge) which highlights the total value of the work and describes in detail the services that will be included within that sum. Therefore, to win over clients when it comes to choosing you over another expert in the field for a renovation project, you have to present a renovation quote that's precise and straightforward.

How hard can that be? It's all about presentation! However, if you're new to the game, you might just ask yourself, "What's the right way to do it?"

How do you write up a quote for a house renovation?

When writing out the details of your quote, put yourself in your client's shoes; they want to be able to look at the quote and understand right away what's detailed in it.  Don't make it confusing! Use a standardized form, one they have likely already gotten from another contractor, and as a bonus, it'll make you look more in-tuned with the profession. Make an effort to be formal yet professional and use a vocabulary that's in line with the relationship (i.e. don't be overly friendly and avoid spelling mistakes at all costs!).

During the course of your meeting with a potential client, try to earn their trust by letting them know that you understand their needs, and due to your experience and skill set, will be able to fulfil them, stress-free. By submitting a detailed and meticulous quote, you're letting them know that you're giving them a 360-degree picture of the project, not cutting corners, and are trustworthy.

Note: Once you submit a quote, barring a client's last-minute add-ons or changes, it should be the final version. Last-minute changes on your side of things might leave a sour taste in a potential client's mouth. Here are some of the components that should be included in your estimate:

• The total cost of the renovation project

• A breakdown of all the stages and related costs

• A timetable (start and end of the project, etc.);

• Terms and conditions;

• Terms of payment (payment schedule, upfront, once the work is done; with or without a deposit, etc.)

• A place where both parties can sign.

Click on this link to access a renovation contract template made by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec. You can use it for your quotes if you wish to do so!

Home Renovation and Design Cost Estimations

When a client requests a quote, no matter the scale of the potential project at hand, whether that may be a complete kitchen overhaul or simply designing a home office, your budget for each and every stage has to be spot on. Keep in mind that no matter their budget, homeowners are looking to hire someone who can give them the best value for their money.

Writing up a quote for a potential client can be complicated given that you have no comparative analysis as well as no idea what your competitors out there are offering. Knowing that, when preparing your quotes, needless to say, pay special attention to your price points. 

Since your goal is for them to sign a contract with you, it may be tempting to quote below market value. However, never sacrifice the quality of your work (or your bottom line) for the sake of signing a contract.

If the contract is worth less than you're spending, chances are you'll try to finish the job faster, and skip out on a few optional steps that could've benefited the project's outcome. If your client isn't happy with the final result, this will end up hurting your business much more than letting this contract go would have in the first place. 

Therefore, unless your client has a very limited budget, you're better off charging a fair price that properly reflects the amount of work to be done.

One of the key ways to come across as convincing is to give evidence of why a client should do business with you. Find a way to showcase your strengths (portfolio, client reviews, website, etc.). Before and after pictures are past projects are always useful!

If you're able to prove that you do quality work that's worth the amount you're charging, people are more likely to accept a higher cost.

How to Calculate Reno Costs for Your Quotes

If you're a new contractor, this is a step that can be quite intimidating, especially since you don't know how many other contractors submitted a bid for the same project. Calculations depend on a multitude of factors, from materials to dimensions, duration, complexity of work, as well as labour costs.

Fortunately, there are several online tools that can help you get a certain idea of market prices and, therefore budget accordingly for each and every potential project, whether that be a bathroom renovation or revamping a home to render it more energy-efficient.

You can also try out our project-specific cost estimators which have been developed with the help of experienced contractors. 

Quoting Out All Lighting Together

If you’re preparing a renovation quote that involves lighting costs, then it is preferable to source from one store. This lets you negotiate better deals and makes expense tracking easier to do. Additionally, by working with a retailer that offers designer lighting fixtures, you'll have access to a wider range of products tailored to your needs. But this also means that deliveries get streamlined, and you have no chance of errors when it comes to your order, preventing yourself from going over budget and never having deliveries with delays.

How to Convince a Client to Do Business with You

Unfortunately, contractors often start at a disadvantage when they first meet clients. Over the years, the reputation of renovation or construction contractors has taken a hit, and the somewhat misconstrued idea behind these professionals can lead to a domino effect on adjacent professions. That's why it's so important to make a good impression during the first meeting.

To win people's trust, you have to be friendly and attentive and know how to show off your skills. Regarding the document itself, there's something to be said about writing a detailed quote and taking the time to read through it, line by line, with the concerned client.

Doing so will have a major impact on the amount of trust the client will have in you, and they might be more likely to sign the contract.