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Just heard a plumber on a job site say 'the estimate is the first invoice'
He was telling his apprentice that if your first number is sloppy, the client already thinks your work will be too. I've started spending an extra 30 minutes double-checking my material lists before I send anything out. How do you guys make sure your first impression with a quote is solid?
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nina_sullivan612mo agoMost Upvoted
That plumber is absolutely right. A messy quote sets the tone for the whole job. I have a simple checklist for every estimate now, just to make sure I didn't forget a basic material or labor step. It takes a few extra minutes but saves so many headaches later. Getting that first number right builds trust before you even show up.
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margaretk8916d ago
Seriously, a messy quote is basically showing up to the job in your pajamas with mismatched socks. You can be the best plumber in the world, but if your estimate looks like a ransom note, people are going to assume you work the same way. A checklist sounds like overkill until the one time you forget to price in the permit fees and have to eat that cost yourself. Better to look a little nerdy with a paper in hand than to have to explain a surprise bill to a customer who's already side-eyeing you.
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