Once a lead comes in, it has to be estimated properly before it becomes a workorder. An estimate is based on multiple factors like the type of service(s) ordered, the equipment needed, the crew involved etc.
Find the estimate
To proceed to the estimate, first search for the lead - either through the Live search, the Leads List or the Leads Map.
- On client's profile you either can create an estimate for already existing lead by clicking on the Leaf icon, or create an estimate for the new project, skipping the lead stage, by pressing Create New Records → Create new estimate on the sidebar of the client's profile.
- To create an estimate from the Leads Map section, click on the lead bubble on the map and in a pop-up window select Create Estimate:
Starting estimation
On the New Estimate page you can now start the estimation.
- If you click on any service/product/bundle from the original lead, they will be added to the estimate.
Note that you can also select multiple services that have previously been set at once. Click here to learn more.
- You can also set the suggested date for estimation by ticking the checkbox next to the service and selecting the date from the mini calendar.
Project scheme
Visualizing the location for the work is an optional feature but it may be a good help for the crew on site. If you're up to it, click on the Project Scheme button.
- Mark the location of the work on the map by drag-and-dropping the pin on the map and click on Create Screen to add the specifications:
- Drag and drop the icons at the top of the scheme to illustrate the place:
- Double-click on the icon to delete it from the scheme. After you are done with creating the project scheme, click on the Save Scheme button. If you need to move the pin on the map, click on the Edit Map button.
Once the project scheme is added to the estimate, it will be available on the Estimate PDF.
Choosing services, products and bundles
It's possible to add additional services, products and bundles that were not presented in the original lead by choosing them from the corresponding options at the bottom of the page.
By pressing on the service you'll be presented with the options to add or edit the service or product description, choose equipment and the crew. For your convenience text boxes are adjustable so that you can view your entire description in one single text without having to scroll or navigate through multiple lines.
- Hover your mouse over the lines in the down-right corner, press, and drag the box down as much as needed.
For the service price, you either can fill it in the Price field manually or you can use the calculator for the automatic calculation.
If the service or product is non-taxable, click on the Price button and tick it as non-taxable.
While using the calculator, the price gets calculated automatically according to the estimated time of work, the MHR rate, the crew and equipment chosen as well as the markup and overhead being set.
- To sum up and apply the calculation after selecting all the required fields, click on the Use button.
If you are estimating multiple services/products/bundles in a single estimate, make sure to go through the steps above for each of them. The total estimate price you receive in the end will include all the services/products/bundles you specified.
To learn more about how the service price is calculated, click here.
Uploading pictures to services
When creating or editing estimates, it's possible to upload pictures to the project by pressing on the Plus icon under the service description. Pictures are clickable and they appear in a pop-up window. It helps to understand if you have uploaded the right pictures for the right service.
- To delete a picture, please press on the small Bin icon
Before saving the estimate
After all the required services, products and bundles are added, you can go ahead and if required:
- add notes for the crew and/or office workers
- add discount and/or edit tax amount
- preview the estimate PDF
If the estimate includes different services, products and bundles, the sequence in the PDF file stays the same as when creating or editing the estimate. You can change the order of the line items which allows you to prioritize, organize, and customize your Estimates.
- Hover your mouse over the 3 bars icon next to the service and drag it where needed.
Note that the estimate draft on the website is automatically synchronized with the same estimate in the mobile app and vice versa.
You can copy an existing estimate to any client. To copy, from the client's estimate page click on the Copy estimate. The option is accessible from the from the sidebar panel. The same feature is also applicable to Workorders and Invoices.
Optional services and products
There is also an option to mark services and products as optional or mandatory. If the service is marked as Optional Selected it will be included to the job order with the checkmark on it by default, while Optional Unselected is unchecked by default and requires confirmation from the client in order to be included to the proposal.
- To switch between options click on the field next to the preferred service/product/bundle.
- After the Estimate is sent to a client, the client on the portal has an option to either confirm the service/product/bundle or to decline it.
- The declined optional services can still be displayed on the Estimate PDF file.
- The feature is customizable and it can be disabled in the Company management → Estimate management block.
