Fence estimates don’t take long to complete—unless you’re dealing with large blueprints and deck builds. Most of the time, you should be able to get a quote in no time. Because of this, many exterior contracting companies like to keep a steady stream of fence jobs as part of their bread and butter.
This means fence contracting gets very competitive. With lower barriers to entry like overhead costs, complicated logistics, and reliance on subs, you’ll see new competition on your turf every building season. Your competitive advantage in the market will depend on how fast the quoting and sales process is.
You want to close the sale as soon as possible, while the project is still hot. But many contractors struggle with this or don’t trust their old method or software to give them an accurate on-the-spot quote.
This is where specialized fence contractor software can come in. This article will cover the common challenges of on-the-spot fencing quotes and how specialized fence contractor software will fix them.
Fence Estimating Pitfalls
Missing Important Details:
Minor oversights will add up to big problems. Overlooking things like sloped terrain or complex property lines will blow up your entire estimate. When using manual methods or generic software, these critical details are easy to overlook and will cost you big time later.
Inaccurate Estimates for Materials and Labor:
Without specialized software, you’ll run into quoting errors that will result in under-ordering or overstocking materials, both of which will hurt your bottom line. And misjudging a job will impact labor costs—whether it’s more needed or expertise required—you can eat into your profits quick.
Lost Sales Due to Old Methods:
Clients these days, whether they know it or not, expect more than just a quote if line items. Consumers are used to a seamless and professional experience, like buying from Amazon. When all they see is a number, they won’t engage and will take their business elsewhere.
So to keep closing and grow your fence contracting business, consider using specialized fence contractor software. Don’t know where to find this? You’re in the right place because Bolster does exactly that and could be the key to starting to leave the competition behind.
Bolster: Fence Contractor Software
Bolster was built with one purpose in mind: to make life easier for contractors. Built by contractors for contractors, we know the challenges in the field—because we’ve been there. So let’s get into the benefits that make Bolster the best choice for fencing contractors.
Real-Time Quote Generation:
One of Bolster’s biggest features is the ability to generate quotes in real-time, especially for fencing quotes. When you onboard with Bolster, our team creates custom templates for all your most common jobs. This makes quoting your fence remodeling project more plug-and-play than ever.
No more taking measurements, going back to the office, and spending hours finalizing estimates.
Error Reduction and Unmatched Accuracy:
Manual calculations are prone to human error and even the most experienced contractors can make mistakes when juggling multiple projects. Bolster eliminates these risks by automating calculations and accounting for all variables. Our software is customized for your high-volume jobs so you can confidently present quotes that are accurate and complete, reducing costly errors and increasing client satisfaction.
Instant Access to All Options:
With Bolster you can provide a complete, detailed and accurate quote during the meeting, but you’re not just providing a quote; you’re delivering a best-in-class customer experience. We like to say, you get to “bring the showroom” to the client’s living room.
As you input the details of the project into Bolster, it can pull up all the fencing options—wood, vinyl, aluminum, and chain-link. All the colors, styles and materials. You can walk the client through the different materials, colors and styles and as they make choices the software will adjust the quote in real-time. By the end of the meeting, you’ve not only provided a quote but have also helped the client design their perfect fence.
By helping clients make decisions quickly, in a unique and, quite frankly never seen before experience, you’re giving your company a huge competitive advantage. You’ll not only wow clients but also differentiate your company from competitors who will take hours or even days to get back with a number.
Addressing Objections
“I’ve Always Done It This Way”:
When you’ve been successful in the past using traditional methods, it’s easy to resist change. But the industry is changing at a rate we haven’t seen in decades and to stay competitive, you need to adapt to the new tools and technologies. Specialized software isn’t about replacing your expertise; it’s about amplifying it so you can work smarter, not harder.
Cost Concerns:
Investing in new software can feel like a big expense but you need to think about the long term return on investment. The time you save on each estimate, the increase in closed deals and the reduction in cost errors will all add up to more profit and bottom line. In other words, specialized fence contractor software like Bolster pays for itself in the first couple of booked jobs.
Conclusion
Today producing your quotes efficiently isn’t just an advantage—it’s a requirement. In theory, quotes are quick but turning those quotes into signed contracts requires more than speed. It requires accuracy, professionalism and the ability to engage with clients from the very first meeting.
Bolster helps you do just that. With real-time quote generation, precise material and labor calculations, and a visually stunning client experience, all customized to your business Bolster changes the way you do business. No more old ways, no more missed details and no more lost sales.
So why stick with the old ways when you can fast track your success with Bolster? It’s time to get ahead and ditch the hours of estimating for quick quotes. Book a demo with our team today and see how Bolster can transform your fence contracting business.
