Although estimates are a staple of any solid proposal, they can be the source of numerous headaches. Depending on the scope of the project, preparing potential costs can be tedious and time-consuming. Furthermore, if your initial estimates prove to be inaccurate, a previously professional relationship with a client might turn sour.
Yet, with the right tools, estimating costs can be a stress-free part of any proposal. Here are a few strategies for creating precise estimates:
Decide how you will define your estimates
Whether you’re choosing to bill your client based on an hourly rate, a flat fee, or some combination of both, the important aspect is this: transparency. Although a particular estimate may seem obvious to you, an inexperienced client may interpret the listed amount differently. Thus, creating a clear estimate is key.
If you’re using Qfactor for Land Surveyors’ proposal builder, you’ll be able to easily list all payment information for each itemized cost. Given that projects are susceptible to change, it’s also easy to return to a previous proposal and alter estimated costs and details. This level of efficiency leaves little room for confusion.
Create a clear itemized list
While it may seem easier to offer one large overall number or group smaller costs together in one category, this strategy can lead to trouble. Assembling a list of costs associated with your project is vital for accuracy in any estimate. Thus, make sure to record a detailed and clear estimated cost for each task and item within the project.
With Qfactor, you call pull input information from QuickBooks into your project template and use the estimate calculator to add up each item. The calculator will also adjust to any additions or removal of items that you make. Not only will this save you time, it’s also far more accurate than fiddling with numbers on your own.
Input past estimated costs into new proposals
Let’s state the obvious: depending on your clients’ wants and needs, as well as the size of the job, the costs of every project will differ from the next. Yet, in similar projects, there may, of course, be several itemized costs that overlap. Rewriting the details of those estimates into each new proposal template can be arduous, open you up to error, and, frankly, aggravating.
By using Qfactor for each proposal, you can return to old projects and simply input parts of your itemized list into your new template. This means you won’t have to spend time figuring out costs or searching for standard details and rates. Instead, you can quickly get repeated costs out of the way and put your energy and focus into specific estimates for your new project.
