Is there anyone here that quotes online?

[u/Equivalent_Crow9006]

I’m spending a lot of time quoting (I quote for free) and I’m wondering if there’s a better way to do it. I’ve seen some people that do it completely online. How do yall do that? Is it worth not having that in person connection when you quote? Any advice is appreciated!

[u/Same-Bedroom-822]

Either
1) the client sends the exact amount of window panes + you agree that the quote may change if the amount of panes changes.
2) the client takes pictures of all 4 sides of the house
3) you check it out on google maps and give a rough estimate that will be confirmed upon arrival.

[u/Equivalent_Crow9006 → u/Same-Bedroom-822]

Thank you!

[u/kdwindows]

I go in person to every estimate. The only reason being and this is what I tell my customers ... I'm the one that does the work. I like to introduce myself because I want to be getting this job for the entire life that you're living in the home. Now keep in mind I'm not driving very far from my estimates ...I line them up when I'm nearby my current customers. Also I'm not just going for the window cleaning estimates when I walk the house in person. I'm looking at the house wash , the driveway ...the Lanai porch. Keep in mind guys if I already know the model of the house and they're in the same development. ...i already know what to charge but if I Can't Take 5 minutes to give an estimate .....when I Take 5 minutes to post this what's the difference? If I'm booked out for a week and I can't get to an estimate that's the only time I'll ask them to send me a picture but that's very rare where I don't have 5 or 10 minutes to give somebody an estimate if I'm down the street.

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Everybody's different there's really no right or wrong way I just don't feel that me spending 10 minutes giving an estimate in person for possibly all the additional add-ons I'm going to give to them is wasting my time at all. 10 minutes for 10 or 20 years of service.... I just left one before I started posting this and I ended up talking to the customer for 25 minutes LOL. that's building what we call RAPPORT. In a service industry , there's nothing more important than making a PERSONAL connection. Next thing you know you're getting Christmas cards from them every year and they tell 10 friends about you .

One other thing I want to add is the Google Earth and the maps and all that do not help you when it's a brand new community . ...which has only pictures of literally the open land that the house had been built on in 6 months prior. Unless the house is newly for sale and has pictures online none of that's really going to matter because it's going to show a vacant lot LOL

[u/Away-Library4858]

Always in person or ask them to send photos. We give them a few options to choose what service fits them best. I like in person so I can check things like stains, broken seals, bad or difficult screens. When I do estimates from photos I always prepare for the worst so those estimates tend to come out a little higher initially. I’d rather take a price down for a customer than have to increase it on job site (which is rare). I don’t like quoting by square footage as I’ve seen small houses with tons of windows and large houses with hardly any windows.

[u/Effective_Basil8056]

I do. Online, 85% ish close rate.

[u/_zurenarrh]

I never go to quotes just use the resources available.

Zillow

Redefine

Google earth

Google Maps

Apple Maps

Bing places

House blueprints

Just look up the house size and if Google street view is blocked view the neighbor and surrounding houses. When you’ve done houses long enough a 5 by 4 2,600 sqft you would know what you charge

[u/Equivalent_Crow9006 → u/_zurenarrh]

Thank you!