Great example of turning an idea into something clients can actually see. Do customers usually make fewer revisions when they get a rendering this early?
In my experience, yes. You find out really quickly if you're on the same page or they are so blown away by your prowess that they trust you to take the reigns. I see a lot of people who think they know what they want, but when I offer an alternate solution that is presented in a way they can imagine it, they are more than happy to acquiesce.
I've had potential clients take my free designs and get them installed by another company, so I'm cautious about spending more than an hour on complimentary design and estimating. After about an hour, I put my foot down and give them the option of either: A) continuing with "design and cost engineering fee" or B) accepting the estimate range so they can get on the schedule while we're going through the built-in design and cost engineering process.
