Choosing the right way to present your quotes is key. With the industry growing every day, you can bet that by the time you read this you’ll have some new competition in your market. And that’s going to make closing bids a lot harder.
Today prospects want to shop around. They want the best price, highest quality but they also want an easy and straightforward path to their new home or renovation project. They want to paint the picture for their project, understand the costs clearly and make an informed decision without hassle.
The way we’re used to doing things is with a line item proposal or paper quote where clients get an itemized list of the items and the costs. This process requires the homeowner to go back and forth with their contractor to update, budget, and decide on a final price.
This is not the easy path clients expect in 2024. Providing an interactive quoting process will not only help you win more jobs but it will also make everybody’s life easier.
So, What is an Interactive Quote?
It’s a Game-Changer
An interactive quote changes the traditional quoting process by allowing clients to interact with different options and see the pricing instantly. Unlike paper quotes, interactive quotes include visual elements and user friendly interfaces to make the client experience better.
Key Benefits of Interactive Quotes:
- Instant Cost Adjustments: Clients can upgrade or downgrade materials, finishes and designs within the quote. Each change updates the total cost instantly so clients have control and clarity without the back and forth.
- Visual Clarity: Images and 3D renderings help clients see their project so the proposal is more engaging and understandable.
- Streamlined Communication: By reducing manual revisions and clarifications, interactive quotes reduce delays and frustration and overall efficiency.
It’s a Sales Tool:
Interactive quotes streamline the sales process by providing a more engaging and transparent experience for clients. They increase client satisfaction, build trust and differentiate your business from those still using traditional methods. By allowing clients to make decisions quickly and easily, interactive quotes can increase your conversion rates and overall sales.
The Difference is Huge
Think about the last time you gave or received a quote for a home service. Was it a bit boring, maybe even confusing? For you maybe not. After all it’s your business but that’s the reality for many clients today.
Imagine you’re a busy homeowner with no knowledge of construction looking to renovate your kitchen. Here’s the typical process you would go through:
- Lack of Visual Appeal: You get a dense Excel sheet with rows of text and numbers or a printed off paper quote. There’s not much imagery or visual representation of what the new kitchen will look like.
- Complexity and Jargon: The proposal is full of technical jargon like “shiplap” and “toe kick installation” you don’t understand so you spend hours Googling and feeling unsure about making the right decisions.
- Time-Consuming Revisions: To get clarity you reach out to the contractor and can start a long back and forth of emails and phone calls. Each change made requires manual adjustments from the contractor so the process goes on for weeks.
Now, Let’s Look at This Process with an Interactive Quote:
Imagine a different scenario. One of the contractors you contacted uses interactive quoting software like Bolster. This time the experience is different.
- Visual Clarity: You get a digital proposal with photos of all the products and materials. You can see exactly what each item looks like so you can see your new dream kitchen.
- Simplicity and Control: The interactive quote allows you to play with different options. You can see the instant cost of upgrading to a higher end countertop or choosing custom cabinetry. Each choice updates the total cost instantly so you have control and clarity in your decisions. No more back and forth.
- Better Experience: You feel informed and involved the whole way through. The interactive quote looks more professional than the other proposals you received.
The benefits of interactive quotes are real and will increase your bottom line. Traditional line item quotes confuse, frustrate and disengage clients. The point is if you can make the process as easy and engaging as possible you will win more jobs.
Resisting Change
Whether it’s fear of the unknown or bad experiences in the past many hesitate to make the switch and choose a construction estimation software. But the switch to interactive quoting software doesn’t have to be scary.
- Ease of Use: Modern construction estimating software solutions are designed to be user friendly so your team can get up to speed quickly. Training and support is often provided to get your team started.
- Cost and ROI: There’s an upfront cost but the return is big. By winning more jobs and larger projects the software will pay for itself in no time. The long term benefits far outweigh the cost.
- Support and Training: Many software providers offer extensive support and training to help your team transition. This includes tutorials, customer service and ongoing updates so you get the most out of the tool.
As the industry evolves so should your quoting approach
Interactive quotes give you a dynamic, easy and visual way to present your proposals and differentiate yourself from the competition. At Bolster we know these challenges firsthand because we’re builders too! We want to help you get rid of complex paper quotes and hello to streamlined communication and client engagement.
Our interactive quote tool allows clients to see different pricing options, upgrades and downgrades to any material you offer. They can see the upgrades, adjust materials and see pricing changes instantly—all in one web portal made just for them.
With Bolster as your partner, you'll not only win more jobs but also deliver exceptional client satisfaction from start to finish. If you would like to learn more about how we can help you reach out to one of our team members and we would be happy to demonstrate the power of Bolster.
