Tips for Writing A Good Estimate
If you are running a company that provides any sort of service like painting, plumbing, mortgage estimates or construction, it’s likely that preparing bids and job estimates are a big part of your daily business. What goes into writing a good bid will land you that valuable contract. Let’s take a look.
What Is A Bid?
A bid is a written proposal submitted by a company to a client or customer. The objective is to win a contract in order to provide a service or product. Bids are mostly used in the fields of construction, advertising and marketing, and engineering.
What Are The Characteristics Of A Good Bid?
The point of a bid is to get the attention of the person who will be awarding the contract. So, it should be written in an organized, professional and clear manner. Using a good automated quoting software such as a construction estimator or a CPQ software can put you at a major advantage over competitors in this aspect. Not all bids are binding, for instance using automation tools you can give estimates, with the expectation the cost will change after personal review.
A bid should be written in a way that speaks to the customer and captures their attention while also highlighting your strengths. You should also include all the relevant information about your company so that the client can make an informed decision.
Points To Keep In Mind While Writing A Bid
- Be clear on how your company can meet the customer’s needs
- Be concise and precise while including all necessary information
- Provide estimates for project time and cost
- Prove that you have relevant experience
- Include references from previous clients
- Be confident; your confidence will show in your writing
- Invest in a good bid management software such as Sinapi
- Include photo examples where possible
- Showcase your company’s strengths
- Be professional and authoritative
Bid writing is a skill that takes time and practice to get perfect. But once you get it right, you can be sure that your bid will stand out among the rest of the pack.
For a more in-depth view into bid writing, check out the following great articles: