I’m still pretty new to window cleaning, only adding it to our services less than a year ago now. Based on my research, the most common estimation process includes a pad of paper and walking around the house counting panes.
I’m big on software. My quote process is highly automated and I can do a moss quote from my phone which crunches numbers into a spreadsheet of formulas for different elements & measurements. From there (once the estimate is complete and my numbers jotted down) the customer receives an automated email to let them know I was on site and completed my evaluation, and to expect a quote. Later, when I get to the office, I sit down, review the numbers, and send out the final quote.
I’m looking for something even faster - even easier.
What is your process? What software or automation do you use? How fast do you, on average, get a quote to a customer?
Personally, I still count panes, jot it down and then write up a quote on a spread sheet form I’ve created (only when more than verbal is needed) just instead of paper, I do everything on my phone or IPad now.
I haven’t tried this yet but many people use programs like “responsibid”. You can apparently add your prices by dimensions or something like that. It’s supposed to help automate the bidding process more.
I definitely feel like it doesn’t require a big, expensive piece of software. You have a spreadsheet that you can enter values into via form? What app or software is that?
ResponsiBid is an interesting platform. It’s the closest thing I’ve found to what I’m trying to build. It’s just expensive AF for what it provides you.
I hate the idea of paying a subscription for software I can build myself.
Currently, I have an excel spreadsheet and it’s in OneDrive, so I can access it from my phone or ipad when I’m bidding a job.
I just enter my count into a preformatted count sheet, it does the math on another sheet I’ve set up as a calculator and automatically populates totals into another pre-formatted sheet.
This is something that’s taken me months to develop because I’m no genius.
It’s excellent because as soon as I’m done the quote, I can email it to the client.
It falls on it’s face automation wise when it comes to actually emailing the quote and storing the quote.
Currently I have an estimated jobs folder in OneDrive and I create a new folder for each client. Then I save the copy of the spreadsheet I was using to price their job in that folder, as well as the PDFs of the quote.
I’m not super busy, so it’s not a big deal currently (actually I love that I never have to think when I’m pricing). Once I grow more, it’s probably going to be a pain, and I’ll either hire someone to make it into a web app, or subscribe to something.
Yeah, that sounds about standard. Another idea would be GSuite and Google Sheets.
Personally, I prefer Apple Numbers the best, but I’ll take what I can get.
I got fed up with spreadsheets so I’ve been trying to build myself a special quoting tool. I’m using FileMaker Pro to do that now. FileMaker Go on the mobile devices to control those entries.
A database that I can reflect on after the fact is what I want ultimately. This will replace my entire CRM system in the long run.
I personally think folks want things as fast as possible. It takes a lot of time to schedule and actually drive to the estimate.
We simply have the customer take 1 photo of each side of the home, text it to us. Then we count the windows and send a reply using a pre saved message that we just add the total number to. It also asks for the customers details . So if they reply all the info including photos are there to book the job when we get back to the office. Very fast and easy. I was very reluctant to start this type of estimates. I was shocked how people loved how fast and easy it was and it saved us TONS AND TONS of time driving all over the city.
O but this wouldn’t work for storm windows and or construction clean ups.
We dont clean storms anymore, but when we did still offer the service we would drive for those quotes. Too many things to look for.
Same with CCUs. You really have to go and actually look and see what and how much is on the glass.
I think out of all the jobs we did last year with quoting this way we ran into 1 or 2 hick ups. But over all a small price to pay for the hours it saved us in driving, scheduling ect.
My second job was done from photos. I couldn’t tell from the photos, but about 4 of them were like French panes, but not as distinct unless you were close to them. I’ve now learned to ensure the customer knows that the final cost is subject to change when I’m actually there in person. But all things considered, the job went smoothly.
Yeah, and small thing like that can be covered in a quick pre saved message. Like
“Price includes only the windows in the photos”
“French windows are extra”
And too be honest usually if we cant tell I just ask the customer. And worse comes to worse you may eat it at the job. But it’s worth it to us when you just cant drive to every single quote.
I thought this might be useful, so I created a crappy little how-to video. Don’t judge me on my complete lack of editing skills. I’m a window cleaner, not a video editor.
Hey Luke I love the idea of doing estimates over the phone with just the customers sending us the photos. Do you mind sharing with us your pre saved message you use with your clients? It will really help me out. I’ve been trying to developed one but im not the greatest at writing it down on a professional way.
