Common Quoting Mistakes Tradespeople Make
A few avoidable errors cost tradespeople jobs and profit. Here they are.
The common quoting mistakes tradespeople make are quoting too slowly and losing the job to a faster rival, using vague lump sum pricing that makes customers uneasy, underquoting just to win and turning a win into a loss, and forgetting to follow up so ready jobs go unclaimed. Each is avoidable.
Quoting too slowly
The most common mistake is taking too long. A quote that arrives days later loses to a faster competitor, no matter how good the price. Speed is often the difference between winning and losing. Related: Why the Fastest Quote Often Wins the Job
Keep reading: Why the Fastest Quote Often Wins the Job, Quoting on Site: The Advantages, Building a Price Book You Can Reuse. See how QuoteSnapr helps you photo-based quote and estimate builder for trade contractors.
Vague, lump sum pricing
A single unexplained number makes customers uneasy and invites haggling. Failing to itemize hides the value of the work and makes the price feel negotiable rather than fair. Related: What should a contractor do when a customer says the quote is too high?
Underquoting to win
Cutting the price to win a job feels smart until the work loses money. Quoting below what the job actually costs is a mistake that turns winning into working for free, or worse. Related: Building a Price Book You Can Reuse
Forgetting to follow up
Sending a quote and never following up leaves winnable jobs unclaimed. A simple, polite follow up recovers many of the customers who simply got busy and forgot to reply. Related: Following Up on a Quote Without Being Pushy
- Quoting too slowly loses jobs
- Vague lump sums make customers uneasy
- Underquoting turns wins into losses
- Failing to follow up leaves jobs unclaimed
Julien Jimenez
Julien Jimenez is an independent software builder based in Paris. He designs, ships, and operates focused SaaS products for small businesses and independent professionals. Read the full author page.
Frequently asked questions
Why is underquoting to win a mistake?
A price set below your real costs turns a won job into a money loser. Winning work you cannot profit on is worse than losing it, so quote to make money, not just to beat rivals.
Which quoting mistake is easiest to fix?
Following up. Many jobs sit unclaimed simply because no one checked back after sending the quote. A quick, polite nudge costs little and recovers work that would otherwise slip away.
Quote the job from the driveway
Photo-based quote and estimate builder for trade contractors. QuoteSnapr is built to help you put this into practice.
Build a quoteMore from the QuoteSnapr blog
Why the Fastest Quote Often Wins the Job
Quoting on Site: The Advantages
Building a Price Book You Can Reuse
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