Quotes and estimates: 69 questions answered
Pricing a job, quoting from photos, sending estimates and following up on the ones that go quiet.
Every answer starts with the short answer, then the reasoning, then an honest status note on what Apex Flow Scheduler does about it.
This area holds 69 answered questions: 69 were returned by public search suggestions when we collected them, and 0 were written by us from research on common owner problems. Of the 69 answers that involve Apex features, 68 involve at least one feature that is still rolling out, in progress or planned. Each answer page names the Apex features involved and shows a status badge computed from our feature audit, so you can see how much of the answer is built today.
All questions in this area
- Can you give an estimate without seeing the job?You can give a ballpark range from photos, measurements and a few answers, but a firm price usually needs someone to see the job. Label a remote number as a range, list what it assumes, and say what would change it. That keeps a rough figure from becoming a promise you cannot keep.
- When are estimates required?It depends on your state and your trade. Many states require a written estimate or contract for regulated work like auto repair or home improvement, often above a set amount, and licensing boards publish the rule. Check your state's board, and give a written estimate for any job where the price could be disputed.
- How to bid a fence job?Measure the fence line in linear feet, count the corners, gates and end posts, note slope, soil and utilities, then price materials, labor, haul-off and margin separately. Walk the line before bidding, because a single buried obstacle or a long gate run can erase the profit on an otherwise tidy job.
- How to create estimates?Create an estimate by describing the scope in plain words, itemizing labor and materials, stating what is not included, setting an expiry date and giving the customer a simple way to approve. Photos of the work area help. Keep the number tied to a template so every estimate is consistent.
- How to do estimates for service jobs?Do estimates the same way every time: gather the facts, measure, price from your own job history, write the scope and send it quickly. Track what each job really cost against what you quoted, then adjust. An estimate is a prediction, and your records are the only thing that improves it.
- How to estimate a drywall job?Measure the wall and ceiling area, divide by the area of one sheet to get the count, and add waste. Then add screws, tape, joint compound, corner bead and primer, and price labor by stage: hang, tape, mud, sand. Include ceiling height and layout, since high ceilings and many cuts slow the crew.
- How to estimate drywall jobs for labor and profit?Price drywall labor by stage using your own hours per sheet or per room, then add overhead and a margin you choose on purpose. Treat small repairs differently from full rooms, because travel, setup and drying visits cost nearly the same whether the patch is small or large. Add a minimum charge.
- How to quote drywall work to a customer?A drywall quote should state the rooms, the finish level, the stages of work, what is included such as texture matching, primer or cleanup, and what triggers a change order. Give a start window and an approval step. Clear exclusions prevent the common fight over who paints and who patches.
- How to estimate junk removal jobs?Estimate junk removal by how much of the truck the load will fill, then add labor time for carrying, disposal or dump fees for heavy or special items, and any access difficulty such as stairs. Photos from the customer let you size the pile before you drive out. Confirm on site before loading.
- How to quote junk removal jobs to customers?Quote junk removal as a range with a stated minimum, list what is included and excluded, and promise a firm price once the crew sees the pile. Say what changes the price, such as extra items, stairs or heavy material. This keeps the phone number from turning into a dispute at the curb.
- How to bid a power washing job?Bid power washing by surface type and area, then adjust for how dirty it is, how hard access is and whether you have water on site. Concrete, siding, decks and roofs wash at different speeds, so price each surface separately. Walk the property or review photos before giving a number.
- How to bid commercial cleaning jobs?Bid commercial cleaning after a walkthrough, scope each area and visit frequency, and present a clear proposal with insurance proof, supplies and a start date. Building managers compare scope as much as price. A vague bid invites a cheaper rival, and a clear one shows you understand their building.
- How to bid window cleaning jobs?Bid window cleaning by counting panes, noting their size and height, and adjusting for access, screens, tracks and hard water spots. Price interior and exterior separately. A per-pane rate with a minimum charge is easy for a customer to follow, and it keeps small jobs worth the trip.
- How to estimate landscaping jobs?Estimate landscaping by listing every task, measuring each area, pricing materials and delivery, estimating labor hours and equipment time, then adding overhead and a margin. Break the job into phases so a change to one part, such as a patio, does not force a redo of the entire price.
- How to estimate mowing lawns?Estimate mowing from the mowable area, the obstacles and trim and edge time, plus how close the stop sits to the rest of your route. Time a few lawns, find your rate per hour, and set a minimum stop charge. Dense routes with short drives make the same price more profitable.
- How to find a good remodeling estimate?A good remodeling estimate describes the scope room by room, names the materials and allowances, gives a schedule, ties payments to stages and explains how changes are priced. Compare bids line by line, since the lowest total often leaves things out. Check the contractor's licence and insurance first.
- How to quote a gutter cleaning job?Quote gutter cleaning by the linear feet of gutter, the number of stories, roof pitch, debris level and downspout flushing. Walk the perimeter or use a map view to measure. Price a minimum visit and add for steep roofs or heavy debris, because ladder moves cost more time than the cleaning itself.
- How to quote a lawn mowing job to a new customer?Quote a new mowing customer with a per-visit price, a list of what is included, a clear schedule and the rules for skips and weather. Keep it short enough to read on a phone. Offer weekly or every other week, state the start date and explain how and when you bill.
- How to quote a house cleaning job?Quote house cleaning from the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the home's size and condition, and how often you will return. Price the first deep clean separately from the maintenance visit, and list extras like inside the oven or fridge. Ask for photos if you cannot visit.
- How to quote commercial cleaning jobs by the hour or the visit?Build a commercial cleaning price from the labor time per visit, the supplies and equipment, overhead and your margin, then present it as a flat monthly price or a per-visit price. Per-hour quoting exposes you to disputes. Flat pricing tied to a written scope is easier for a manager to approve.
- How do I get junk removal jobs?Win junk removal jobs by being the first honest number a shopper receives. Ask for two or three photos, price by truck fraction, give a range with a stated ceiling, and offer a pickup window the same day you reply. Shoppers rarely wait for the lowest quote.
- How do I get customers for my landscaping business?Land the first ten landscaping customers by making quotes fast and specific. Measure the property, send a written price the same day, offer one small starter job, and follow up twice on every estimate. Early customers choose the person who answers clearly, not the lowest bid.
- How do I get landscaping clients that are businesses or HOAs?Commercial and HOA landscaping clients buy on proof and clarity. Prepare a certificate of insurance, a written scope listing every task and frequency, references, and a fixed monthly price. Boards and property managers compare bids line by line, so the clearest scope often beats the lowest figure.
- How do I deal with clients who keep adding to the job?Handle added requests by writing the original scope down and pricing every addition before you do it. A short change order, agreed by text or signature, protects your margin and keeps the relationship friendly. Free extras set a precedent that is hard to reverse.
- How do I get commercial cleaning jobs?Win commercial cleaning jobs by walking the space, writing a scope that lists each task and how often it happens, and presenting a fixed monthly price with proof of insurance. Office managers compare bids on clarity and reliability, and a precise scope signals both.
- How do I turn remodeling leads into signed jobs?Turn remodeling leads into signed jobs with a fixed sequence: reply the same day, visit with measurements, send a written estimate that itemizes scope and allowances, state a deposit and a realistic start date, and follow up twice. Homeowners sign with the contractor who looks organized and honest about timing.
- How do I charge for pressure washing jobs?Charge for pressure washing by combining a rate per square foot for each surface type with a minimum charge, then adding for height, heavy staining, difficult access, and water source. Test the total against your hourly target, because the area rate alone can hide a slow job.
- How to charge for drywall jobs?Charge drywall by measured area for hanging and finishing, then add a trip minimum, and use an hourly rate only for repairs with unknown scope. Measure square feet, pick a finish level, add material with markup and labor hours, then divide the total back into a price per square foot.
- How to charge for power washing jobs?Price power washing per square foot of surface, with different rates for concrete, siding, decks and roofs, then apply a minimum job charge. Measure from the street or a photo, add a surcharge for no water access or heavy staining, and quote the total, not the rate.
- How to charge for remodeling jobs?Charge for a remodel by adding direct costs, overhead and profit, then choose between a fixed bid and cost plus. A fixed bid needs a tight written scope. Cost plus needs an open ledger and an agreed percentage. Either way, every change goes through a signed change order.
- How to charge for a roofing job?Price a roof by the roofing square, which is one hundred square feet, then add tear-off, steep pitch, extra layers, flashing, vents and dumpster costs. Measure the surface, apply a rate per square for material and labor, and show the customer a single total with options.
- What features does flooring design software have?Flooring design software helps draw rooms, preview materials and calculate layout and waste, while scheduling and job software handles measure appointments, quotes, install dates and invoices. They solve different problems, so many flooring companies use both and move the final measurements into the quote.
- How to cancel an estimate in field service software?To cancel an estimate, mark it as declined, expired or withdrawn instead of deleting it, so the customer can no longer approve it and your win and loss records stay intact. Choose declined when the customer said no, expired when time ran out and withdrawn when you pulled it back.
- How do I price junk removal jobs?Price junk removal from four inputs: how much of the truck the load fills, the labor time to carry it, the disposal fees at the dump or recycler, and a surcharge list for special items. Add a minimum charge so a single small item still covers the trip.
- How do I price drywall jobs?Price drywall by phase: hanging the board, taping, mudding coats, and sanding, each with its own rate per square foot or per sheet, plus a minimum for patches. Splitting the phases shows where labor really goes and lets you adjust for ceiling height, finish level and access.
- How do I price house cleaning jobs?Price house cleaning from the hours a visit needs multiplied by your all-in labor cost per cleaner hour, then adjust for home size, condition and visit type. A first deep clean takes longer than a recurring maintenance visit, so the two should carry different prices.
- How do I price power washing jobs?Price power washing from the surface area, multiplied by a rate that depends on the surface type and how soiled it is, then add charges for difficult access, water supply and a minimum for small jobs. Measuring the area first stops guesses that quietly lose money.
- How do I price window cleaning jobs?Price window cleaning by counting panes, applying a rate per pane that varies with size and whether you clean interior, exterior or both, then adding charges for height, screens, tracks and heavy dirt. A job minimum covers the trip when a customer has only a few windows.
- How much does a roofing job cost?A roofing job costs the sum of materials, labor, tear-off and disposal, permits, safety and overhead, plus profit, and it varies with roof size, pitch and condition. I give no market rate here because local prices differ too much. Measure the roof, price each part, and add a margin.
- How to price a roofing job?Price a roofing job by measuring the roof in squares, costing materials with a waste allowance, counting crew days at a loaded labor rate, adding disposal, permit and overhead, then applying your target margin and a contingency for rotten decking. Round to a number you can explain.
- How much does a tint job cost?A tint job costs the film, the installer's time, any removal of old tint and the shop's margin, so the price depends on the number and shape of windows, the film grade and the condition of the glass. I give no market rate, because local prices differ; measure, price the film, and add time.
- How to price a drywall job?Price a drywall job by counting sheets, hanging time, tape and mud coats, sanding and cleanup, then adding material cost, dry-time scheduling, travel and your margin. Quote per square foot or per sheet only after you have timed your own work, and keep a minimum for small repairs.
- How to price drywall repair jobs?Price drywall repairs with a minimum visit charge that covers travel and setup, then add per-patch pricing by size and a separate line for texture and paint matching. Small repairs usually need a return visit for coats, so build the second trip into the price.
- How to price a fence job?Price a fence job by measuring linear feet, counting corners, posts and gates, costing materials with waste, estimating digging and set time for the ground, and adding permits, haul-away and margin. A per-foot figure is a summary you build from these parts, not a starting point.
- How to price a house cleaning job?Price a house cleaning job from the time it takes: estimate hours by rooms and condition, multiply by crew size and a loaded hourly cost, add supplies and travel, then add margin. Charge more for the first clean, which takes longer, and offer a lower recurring rate once the home is at baseline.
- How to price cleaning jobs?Price cleaning jobs with a cost-plus method: work out your cost per labor hour including payroll costs and supplies, estimate the hours for the specific job, add travel, then add margin. Set a minimum charge for small jobs and publish a short add-on list so extras are never a surprise.
- How to price a gutter cleaning job?Price a gutter cleaning job from linear feet of gutter, the number of stories, the downspouts to clear and the condition of the debris, then add a minimum charge and your margin. Offer repairs and guards as separate quotes after you see the gutters from a ladder.
- How to price a junk removal job?Price a junk removal job by estimating how much of the truck it fills, then adding labor and carry time, disposal and recycling fees, fuel and your margin. Set a minimum load charge and list items that add a fee to dispose of, such as mattresses, appliances or anything heavy.
- How do you price junk removal jobs?Many junk haulers price by load tiers, such as a quarter, half, three-quarter or full truck, each with a fixed price built from their own cost per load. Add a minimum, extra charges for heavy or special items, and a photo estimate that you confirm on arrival.
- How much to charge for junk removal jobs?Charge enough per load to cover labor, truck, fuel, disposal and overhead and still leave your target margin. Find your cost for a typical load, divide by one minus the margin you want, and test it against five recent jobs. I give no local rate, because disposal costs and demand vary.
- How to price pressure washing jobs?Price pressure washing by measuring each surface, estimating how fast you clean that surface type, then adding chemicals, water access, travel and margin. Different surfaces clean at different speeds, so price concrete, siding and roofs separately and set a minimum charge for small jobs.
- How do you price pressure washing jobs?Pressure washers price by square foot, by the hour or by package. Per square foot is easy to quote and fits flat surfaces, per hour fits unusual or dirty jobs, and packages fit repeat customers. Whichever you use, check it against your actual hours and keep a minimum.
- How to price pest control jobs?Price pest control as two parts: an initial treatment that covers inspection, the larger first application and follow-up risk, and a lower recurring plan for maintenance visits. Base each on property size, pest type, product and time, add margin, and state what the plan covers if pests return.
- How to price commercial cleaning jobs?Price commercial cleaning by walking the building, listing tasks and their frequency, estimating labor hours from your own productivity per area type, then adding supplies, supervision, insurance and margin. Quote a monthly amount for a defined scope, with a clause for extra work.
- How to price commercial lawn mowing jobs?Price commercial lawn mowing by measuring turf area, estimating mowing and trimming time with your equipment, adding blowing, disposal and travel, then applying margin. Quote per cut or as a seasonal contract, and state the number of visits, the growth-rate exceptions and the weather rule.
- How to price commercial pressure washing jobs?Price commercial pressure washing by surveying the site, measuring each surface, adding after-hours scheduling, water and wastewater rules, equipment and insurance requirements, and a margin. Offer a scheduled contract for repeat areas, such as entrances and dumpster pads, with a stated frequency.
- How to price mobile mechanic jobs?Price a mobile mechanic job from four lines: a trip or diagnostic charge, labor for the repair, parts with a margin, and a margin on the whole to cover your van, tools and downtime. Quote labor from the repair time you have measured, not a guess, and state the warranty on parts and work.
- How to price remodeling jobs?Price a remodel by breaking it into phases, costing labor, materials and subcontractors for each, adding overhead and profit, and holding a contingency for what the walls hide. Use written allowances for items the customer has not chosen and a change order for anything outside the scope.
- How to price residential cleaning jobs?Price residential cleaning with a frequency ladder: a higher first-clean price that resets the home, then lower recurring prices for weekly, every-other-week and monthly visits, each set from the hours that frequency really takes. Keep the discount tied to time saved, not to a feeling.
- How to price roofing jobs?Price roofing jobs by giving the customer a good, better and best choice of materials, each built from measured squares, material cost with waste, crew days, disposal and your margin, and by stating a decking allowance. A quote with a short expiry protects you when material costs move.
- How to price snow plowing jobs?Price snow plowing as a per-push charge, a per-inch charge or a seasonal contract, each with a trigger depth, a response-time promise, a salt option and a minimum. Seasonal contracts smooth income but need a clear cap on events, while per-push pricing follows the weather.
- How to price snow removal jobs?Price snow removal by splitting it into plowing, hand shoveling of walks and steps, de-icing, and pile management or hauling, each with its own trigger and price. Add a minimum per visit and a clause for ice storms and for accumulation that exceeds the contract depth.
- What are tips for writing auto repair price estimates?A good auto repair estimate lists parts, labor hours at your rate, shop fees and a total, then gets the customer's approval before any work starts. Separate required repairs from recommended ones, and write down the date and who approved. This prevents most bill disputes.
- What is the best way to price pressure washing jobs?Price pressure washing by surface area, then check the result against your time and a minimum job fee. Measure the square footage per surface, apply a rate you have tested for that surface, add for access, water and chemicals, and confirm the total covers your hours at your target hourly income.
- Is there a free trial of contractor CRM software?Yes. Jobber's pricing page describes a 14-day trial with full Grow plan access and no card, and Housecall Pro's describes a 14-day trial of Max, also without a card. A contractor should push live bids, a revision and a change order through the trial.
- Is there a free trial of flooring company software?Yes. Jobber and Housecall Pro both publish 14-day trials with no card, on their Grow and Max plans. A flooring company should spend the window on one real room-by-room quote, a deposit and an install date that waits on material delivery.
- Can a free app handle roofing estimating?A free app can store a roofing estimate, but measuring the roof and pricing materials is a manual job unless you add paid tools. Measure each plane, convert to roofing squares, apply a tested material and labor cost, add waste and tear-off, and write the scope into the proposal.
- How can a roofing business offer free estimates without losing money?Offer free estimates by qualifying the lead first, batching visits by area and setting a rule for when a paid inspection applies. A phone screen on roof age, damage and ownership removes visits that were never going to sell, and clustering the rest keeps drive time down.
- What is fence software?Fence software is business software for fence installers that prices jobs by linear footage, height and material, tracks gates and posts, and schedules layout and install visits. Some products are built for fencing, while others are general quoting tools with a fence template.
Trades with questions here
- Fence contractor
- Drywall contractor
- Junk removal
- Pressure washing
- Residential cleaning (maid service)
- Lawn care
- General contractor
- Roofer
- Flooring installer
- Pest control
- Auto repair shop
- Snow removal
Other process areas
- Lead capture
- Booking and scheduling
- Double booking and capacity
- Recurring jobs and memberships
- Dispatch and routing
- Reminders and texting
- Cancellations and no-shows
- Phone and AI answering
- On-site work and photos
- Approvals and signatures
- Invoicing and payments
- Follow-up and reviews
- Integrations and accounting
- Reporting and payroll
- Software pricing and choosing
- Switching and cancelling
- App reliability and support