Great question! Estimate software is a time-saving, accuracy-designed digital tool that contractors and other home professionals use to convert measurements into documents that outline all costs of a project—from labor, and materials to markups, shipping and more. Estimating programs allow contractors to automate these calculations, leaving less room for human error that could lead to billing errors down the road. Additionally, estimate software helps Pros digitize their business, helping to keep estimates organized within the software program or app. As an added bonus, estimating software makes it seamless to share estimates with clients, other contractors or vendors. 

Here’s a great starter pack. At minimum, an estimate should contain the following elements:

• Your company’s contact information
• Your client’s contact information
• Date the estimate was prepared
• Item names, quantities and price for each material required to execute a project (you can include labor in the price or as a separate line item)
• Subtotal, taxes, fees and the grand total
• A place for both parties to sign and date the estimate once approved

If you want to add a competitive edge to your estimate, we recommend including:

• Your company’s logo to add an extra dose of professionalism
• Inspirational images to help clients visualize what they’re getting
• Dreamy descriptions of items to show how you plan to use them
• Terms and conditions that include any important information your client should be privy to before signing
• A payment schedule so your client knows when to expect an invoice

Sign up for a free trial of Houzz Pro’s online estimating software to create an estimate that includes all of these elements and more!

With so many contractors and construction Pros looking to digitize their business, there are many types of estimating programs available on the market today. When looking for an estimating software that suits your needs, be sure to consider the following features:

• Cloud-based: A cloud-based estimate software will help keep your estimates organized in the cloud so any team member, contractor or client can access them when they need to. It also ensures you only ever have one version of an estimate floating around to create a single source of truth.
• Integrations: The estimating software you choose should integrate with your other business tools so you don’t have to completely overhaul the way you work. Integrations with Gmail, Zoom and accounting software like QuickBooks online are some important integrations to look for as you’ll commonly be using these tools to send and communicate your estimates, then align them with your business finances.
• All-In-One Tools: Estimating software is most useful for busy Pros when it has other features that help optimize the entire project workflow. For example, if you use one tool to create your estimates and another to create invoices, you’ll be spending a lot of time entering the same data twice, which could hold you back from taking on more projects. Be sure to look for tools that can tackle takeoffs, estimates, invoices, change orders and more so you can achieve maximum business efficiency.

P.S. Houzz Pro’s estimating program and app checks all of the boxes on this wishlist. Try a demo to see for yourself.

With a Houzz Pro membership that comes with our estimating software, you’ll also have access to these game-changing business tools:

• A premium profile on Houzz
• A complimentary business website
• Targeted local advertising
• Quality lead generation

But the perks don’t stop there. You’ll also get the following tools that help you win the projects you want:

• A CRM that helps you stay organized
• Simple email marketing tools
• Mood boards, a 3D floor planner and  Life-sized Walkthrough features 
• Lightning-fast takeoff tech

We even help you manage projects with: 

• Project management and collaboration solutions
• Straightforward change orders
• A 24/7 client dashboard and portal
• Real-time approval tracking and e-signatures
• Project profitability analytics

When it’s time to get paid, you’ll enjoy the convenience of:

• Online payment & invoicing tools
• Time and expense tracking
• Financial reports
• Integrations with Gmail, Zoom, QuickBooks Online and more