How do contractors close more sales after sending a bid?
I have been a bit discouraged lately, not getting the jobs I am bidding (residential painting).
Any recommendations on how to close a sale?
Forum Discussion
I like to be descriptive in the quote. Not doing a full breakdown of materials etc. But just explaining the scope of work and how far you'll go. Obviously there's things that you do that most guys wouldn't, so be sure to spell that out. That way, if they are comparing apples to oranges it makes it easier to have you as the clear choice.
If I can't deliver the quote in person, I like to send it to them once I'm on a video chat with them. We can walk through the quote in a couple of minutes and I can see what their hesitations are and what they're getting hung up on just by the look on their face.
If the clients ghost me, I'll occasionally offer them an Amazon gift card to share the winning bid with me. Sometimes it works. Sometimes they ignore me. But it helps me see that it's not always about the price or the quote, sometimes it's a detail I hadn't thought of.
I agree that the quote itself should continue building value by clearly explaining the scope of work and the level of service being provided. Homeowners often don't realize the difference between contractors, so spelling out the details, preparation, cleanup, quality standards, warranties, and all the extra steps that many competitors skip can make the comparison much easier. It helps them understand they're not simply comparing prices—they're comparing outcomes. Between building value throughout the walkthrough, creating more descriptive proposals, presenting quotes in real time, and actively seeking feedback, there are a lot of practical takeaways here that can improve both the customer experience and closing percentage. Thank you for taking the time to share your insights.
