The Fastest Method for Estimating Residential Interior Painting Jobs
Remodeling
6 min read
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Sam Miller
RevOps Manager
The fastest method for estimating may be one you haven’t tried yet. It involves using a digital floor plan app – one that’s designed to speed up the estimating process for professional contractors. Read on to see how this method involves just six basic steps.
NOTE: Select a floor plan app that has pricing, measuring, estimating and reporting functions (everything you’ll need and want in painter estimate software).
Step 1: Create a Digital Price List
Step 2: Visit the Job Site and Quickly Gather Measurements
Step 3: Document and Photograph Any Repairs or Prep Work That Will Be Necessary Before Painting
Step 4: Prepare a Project Checklist
Once your floor plan document is complete, it’s time to prepare a checklist before you begin any calculations. Your checklist should cover all factors that will impact your material and labor costs. These factors may include:
Various repairs that need to be completed first (nail pops, dents, holes, scratches, etc.)
The surfaces of areas to be painted (walls or ceilings or both; smooth or textured surfaces; areas with decorative moldings, etc.)
Whether you are estimating for residential construction that’s brand new or an older, lived-in home
Whether or not priming is needed
The total square footage that needs to be primed and/or painted
The number of coats required
The brand and coverage quality of the paint you will use
The experience level of the person who will do the painting (novice, mid-level or advanced)
Preparing a checklist shouldn’t take more than a few minutes, and it can be very helpful.
Step 5: Estimate Material and Labor Costs
Here is where you can put your floor plan app to work for a third time. When you have a full-function app such as magicplan, you can calculate material and labor costs easily, quickly and accurately. The app will allow you to build an estimate based on your captured floor plan data, your custom price list, and your project checklist.
PRO TIP: Don’t Include a Discount
Doing so will decrease the perceived value of your services, and it will cut into your profitability. Instead, rely on your site-inspection documentation, price list, and app functionality to develop a fair and accurate estimate.
Read more: Estimating a Kitchen Remodel as a Residential Contractor
Step 6: Finalize and Share Your Estimate Document
Here’s a fourth way your floor plan app can help you save you time: Simply use the app’s reporting function to generate a professional-looking, easy-to-read PDF, complete with your company logo and contact information. Then instantly share the document with your customer while you’re still there, in their home – which is a quicker, more effective way to secure their approval. It gives you an opportunity to promote the value of your services, answer any questions, and emphasize the quality of your work.
PRO TIP: Add an expiration date to your estimate.
Let the homeowner know that you are locking in your pricing for a set amount of time (perhaps 30 or 45 days from the date you present your estimate). This precludes any expectations that your estimated amount will be valid months later – at a time when your costs may be much higher.
Conclusion
Faster estimating with a multi-function floor plan app has multiple benefits. It increases your productivity so you can get more done. It helps you minimize costly mistakes by automating the measuring, calculating and reporting steps. It makes you look more professional. And it helps you close more deals by providing interior painting estimates on the spot. Find out for yourself by downloading a high-quality floor plan app today!
