Share Estimates
Overview
When you have completed the estimate and are ready for client feedback, you can use the Buildwise Estimate Proposal Builder to generate a customized estimate proposal and share it with your client.
This article covers the steps to customize your estimate proposal and ways you can share it with your client:
- Create an Estimate Proposal
- Customize the Estimate Proposal
- Project Estimate
- Review the Estimate Proposal
- Share the Estimate Proposal
Create an Estimate Proposal
On the dashboard for the estimate you want to share, click Share.
The Buildwise Estimate Proposal Builder displays a cover page, Scope of Work, and several rich text editor fields.
Notes
- The cover template includes:
- Brand logo uploaded in your Company Settings
- Client name(s) and project address entered in Project Settings
- Current date
- Page headers include your logo, the estimate name, project address, client name(s), and current date.
- Depending on the Contract Type selected in Project Settings – Fixed Cost or Cost Plus – you can choose how to organize a project’s scope of work and associated costs within Buildwise.
- You can also change the estimate status or delete the estimate.
Next, you will customize each section of the estimate proposal.
Customize the Estimate Proposal
The Buildwise Estimate Proposal Builder allows you to customize the proposal cover, estimate details, and how to display SOW pricing and allowances.
Cover
You can customize the cover:
Select the Cover Image
To select the cover image, go to Photo Of Property > Click To Upload Image.
Note: The recommended size for the photo is 508 pixels by 508 pixels.
Adjust the Photo
To adjust the photo size, placement, or border color, click on the image to display the toolbar.
- Zoom in or out to resize the image.
- Click and drag the image to adjust placement.
- Change the border color of the image to match your brand colors. You can use RGB, HSL, or HEX.
- Click the green check to save your changes or the red X to reset.
Adjust the Color Pane
To adjust the color of the side color pane, click on the pane to display the toolbar.
- Change the pane color to match your brand colors. You can use RGB, HSL, or HEX.
- Click the green check to save your changes or the red X to reset.
Project Brief
The Project Brief section is the first section in the estimate proposal after the cover.
- You can use paragraph text with bold and italics, numbered lists, and bulleted lists.
Enter information for the following sections:
- Project Description – Enter a clear description of the project. Note: If nothing is entered here, then this section, including the section title, is excluded from the estimate proposal.
- Needs Matrix – Describe the goals and must-haves that your client has communicated for the project. Note: If nothing is entered here, then this section, including the section title, is excluded from the estimate proposal.
- Wants – Highlight the items that the client has stated are “wants” or “nice-to-haves” in their project. Note: If nothing is entered here, then this section, including the section title, is excluded from the estimate proposal.
Scope of Work
The Scope of Work (SOW) follows the Project Brief section in the estimate proposal.
Depending on the Contract Type selected in Project Settings, you can choose how to display the SOW.
- Fixed Cost Pricing – Display a lump sum total or section pricing
- Cost Plus Pricing – Display the cost item total or the cost item breakdown
- Allowances – Available for both fixed cost and cost plus projects when Allowance is checked in the Cost Item data line in the estimate builder
Fixed Cost Pricing
For fixed-cost projects, you can choose to display a lump sum total or section pricing.
Lump Sum |
Scroll to the Pricing section and click the Lump Sum radio button to display one price at the bottom with markup applied (hidden). 
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Section Pricing |
Scroll to the Pricing section and click the Section Pricing radio button to display one price for each Cost Group section with markup applied (hidden). 
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Cost Plus Pricing
For cost-plus projects, you can choose to display the cost item totals or the cost item breakdown.
Cost Item Total |
Scroll to the Pricing section and click the Cost Item Total radio button to display a total for each Cost Item data line. 
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Cost Item Breakdown |
Scroll to the Pricing section and click the Cost Item Breakdown radio button to display a breakdown of COGs (Labor, Materials, Trade) as well as a total for each Cost Item data line. 
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Allowances
Cost Items in your estimate that have Allowance checked in the data line will display in the Allowances section after the Scope of Work. Allowances are available for both fixed-cost and cost-plus projects, and are grouped by Cost Group.
Project Estimate
The Project Estimate section follows the Scope of Work in the estimate proposal.
- You can use paragraph text with bold and italics, numbered lists, and bulleted lists.
Enter information for the following sections:
- Inclusions – Used to document what is included within your estimate proposal. For example, you may want to state that the estimate proposal includes all labor, materials, and trade partner contracts to execute the work, as well as all building permits, survey reports, post-construction cleanup, etc.
- Exclusions – Used to document what is not included within your estimate proposal.
- Next Steps – Populates at the end of the estimate proposal and allows you to indicate the next steps your client can expect in the process.
Review the Estimate Proposal
It’s always a good idea to review the estimate proposal before you share it with the client.
In the Estimate Proposal Builder, click Client Preview. A new tab opens with the generated proposal.
Share the Estimate Proposal
There are three ways to share the estimate proposal with your client:
- Share by Email via a templated email to the client – option for digital signature
- Copy the URL and paste it into an email to the client – option for digital signature
- Download a PDF and email it manually to the client – no option for digital signature
Share By Email
Buildwise allows you to personalize the templated email to send to your client with a link to view and digitally sign the estimate proposal. A signed document automatically updates the estimate status to Client Approved in Buildwise.
In the Estimate Proposal Builder, click Share by Email.
The Share By Email popup opens with the following editable fields:
- Email – Auto-populated with the email address(es) added to the project.
- Subject – Auto-populated with “Proposal from [your Company Name in Company Settings]”
- Body – Auto-populated with templated content, including:
- Client name from the project
- Link to the estimate proposal with signature functionality
- Your company email address from Company Settings
Click Share. A Thank You! confirmation popup opens. Click OK to close.
Buildwise sends the email with a link to the estimate proposal.
Copy the URL
You can copy the URL of the estimate proposal and paste it into an email to send to your client, allowing them to view and digitally sign the document. A signed document automatically updates the estimate status to Client Approved in Buildwise.
In the Estimate Proposal Builder, click Copy URL. A popup message in the bottom left of the screen confirms the link was copied to your clipboard.
Download a PDF
You can download the estimate proposal as a PDF and attach it to an email to send to the client.
Note: While the PDF document includes a space for a Customer Signature, it does not allow for a digital signature. We strongly encourage you to obtain a digital or physical signature for your estimates prior to proceeding with the project. If you receive a signature by other means, such as DocuSign, make sure to update the status of the proposal to Manually Approved in Buildwise.
In the Estimate Proposal Builder, click Download. The PDF file is downloaded to your computer.
