Making an estimate for a retail or commercial project may seem easy for those in the industry. However, there can often be some difficulties, especially when it comes to margins.
Let's see together some fundamental points to draw up a perfect, customer-friendly and marginalised estimate!
What is an estimate?
Let's start with the basics: the estimate is an offer for a product or service that includes a precise and detailed calculation of all the costs expected to be incurred. The estimate of shop furnishings will comprise as many items as there will be the specifics of the creation of the retail project.
Vademecum of the perfect estimate
To not incur non-marginality, some simple rules should be kept in mind.
- 1. Studying and analysing all the details of the furnishing project of the shop, pharmacy, bar or restaurant, without neglecting any detail. To draw up the estimate correctly, you must understand what can be taken from a "standard" catalogue and what must be necessarily customised and therefore tailor-made for the retail project, always according to the customer's requests. As we have already said in other articles, carefully listening to customers is essential to immediately understand their needs and not to incur unpleasant surprises. A good initial communication already guarantees 50% of the success of the project.
- Precisely define the budget available for the retail project. Understanding the spending capacity of the final customer is crucial for the entire development of the estimate as it will define the choice of certain furnishings and finishes as well as other elements, but also the prevalence of standard or customised products.
- Then a list of activities to be carried out must be made, including extra ones aimed to face any unexpected problems.
- Defining the various prices through a price list - in case of a preference for standard retail furnishings - or addressing to dedicated professionals if there is the need to demand an estimate per componenti altamente personalizzate. For this last case it is good to rely only on companies with an office and professionals dedicated to quotes, to ensure maximum accuracy to the customer.
Custom furniture projects realised completely in Italy by a team of expert planners, designers and project managers.
- Also enhance your work, as you will have to coordinate the whole project with care and dedication! Precisely calculate the hours you might spend for its realisation and explain the value of the time required to your customer.
- Always foresee extra or additional costs in the case of certain conditions or be clear with the client and define the costs calculated separately in advance. Clarity is crucial in every estimate and guarantees long professional life!
- Clearly indicate delivery times that must be coordinated with any sub-suppliers to give precise and exact dates! Compliance with deadlines is particularly essential in the realisation of shop furnishing projects. Indeed, deadlines can be connected to opening dates, openings or set-ups.
- Clearly setting the dates and prices of the various payments helps avoiding unpleasant misunderstandings.
Don't forget that the estimate is your business card and must adequately represent your business and your professionalism! Always write your estimate clearly and use simple language , so that your customer can understand the document. The support of certain suppliers will then help you to outline exact delivery dates and precise prices, that are connected to your margins. After all, it is you who put your face to the customer!
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