How to Draft Consumer-Friendly Building Proposals
Use these tips to develop bids and proposals that can help you land more jobs
Creating consumer-friendly building project proposals is essential for any homebuilder who wants to evolve and grow their business. Different from an estimate that solely features your price for the job, a sales proposal also illustrates your understanding of the client’s needs and provides persuasive reasons to work with you. Experts believe this distinction is key to winning more business. But with limited time and resources, how can you create impressive proposals that will woo your potential home buyers? These tips will help:
Keep it short
Include an executive summary
Give options
Outline your skills and experience
Add a signature line
Produce it quickly
Let’s take a closer look at how you can impress your clients with a compelling construction proposal.
1. Keep it short
Some builders make the mistake of creating building proposals that are multiple pages long. Since potential homebuyers are likely to skim through these pages and miss crucial information, it’s wise to keep it short. Refrain from including too much too soon – only feature critical information your client needs to know in these early stages of the project.
2. Include an executive summary
The executive summary is often the first part of a proposal. It’s the first impression your potential homebuyer will develop about your future working relationship. While keeping it clear and concise, describe the goals your client is looking to achieve with their new home, the specific ways you can help them achieve their goals, and the reasons why your company is best suited for the job. When your client reads it, you want them to feel you understand the type of home they’re hoping for and briefly explain how you are going to bring it to life.
3. Give options
Rather than offering just one building option in your proposal, provide up to three options for your clients to consider. Vary the options by features, scope, time frame, and – of course – price. The goal is to empower your clients to make the best decision for their needs without feeling the need to explore additional options from competitors.
4. Outline skills & experience
When selecting a homebuilder to build their dream home, Wisconsin families pay close attention to skills and experience that can help them establish trust. When drafting your building project proposal, be sure to include your capabilities and examples of other home building jobs in the area. Provide the names and phone numbers of previous clients they can contact for a reference and let them know you’re a WBA member to enhance your credibility further.
5. Add a signature line
Concluding your building proposal with contract language and a signature line can increase the likelihood that your client will commit to the project. With a simple signature on the dotted line, you’ve just won a new building deal!
6. Produce it quickly
Even when you’re busier than ever, make time to draft your building proposals within two to three days of your clients’ request. Research shows that proposals submitted within 2.7 days were more likely to win the business than those sent after 3.4 days. When it comes to catching the worm, it’s best to be the early bird.
For help creating a building proposal template, check out online tools like Canva, Proposable, or Proposify.
With these tips for drafting consumer-friendly building project proposals, you can land more new business and play a key role in strengthening and enhancing the Wisconsin housing industry for homebuilders and home buyers alike. For more exclusive member-only articles for builders, check out our news archive!