This Is A Critical Part of Clear Communication
We began this “Blueprint for Building a Better Proposal” series with communication and the problems that occur when it’s done poorly or not at all. This is without a doubt the area where most contractors struggle. It doesn’t have to be this way.
Communication is the most important part of the proposal process.
Things that are unfamiliar seem overwhelming. This is true for both the customer and the contractor. The customer when not understanding what the contractor is talking about and contractor when not having a system for preparing proposals.
Our “Blueprint for Building a Better Proposal” system has specific pieces and steps for simplifying the process.
Last week we went through Step 1 – Gathering Information. This is where the customer’s why is uncovered, and the physical information is gathered and recorded. Here, we’ll breakdown Step 2 – Preparing the Scope of Work.
What is a Scope of Work?
A Scope of Work, …clearly defines the project requirements, milestones, deliverables, end products, documents and reports that are expected to be provided by the vendor. It helps in the smooth functioning of a project/work contract wherein both parties can avoid ambiguities and situations leading to dispute. It is the first step to building a mutually beneficial collaboration between a vendor and his customer. From a Udemy blog post written by Richa
According to Juan Rodriguez’s The Balance Small Business article, “Must-Have Items on a Construction Scope of Work”, the basic elements…of a scope of work document describes all of the work to be done on a project, who is responsible for completing the work, how the work must be performed (techniques used), and what materials will be used.
Communication needs be simple and direct while explaining clearly and thoroughly.
Writing out the description of work to be done in terminology that both the customer and the contractor understand is key to clarity. It needs to include enough specifics to be thorough without being too technical. Communication isn’t any good if it’s confusing.
EXAMPLE PROJECT:
When meeting with customer Jane Smith we found out that she wanted to add on a laundry/sewing room. She loved to sew and did a lot of it. Currently she used the table in the main floor dining room and the sewing machine in the basement. Her washer and dryer were in two separate closets in the master bathroom. This made for an inconvenience when sewing or doing laundry.
Once we’ve determined the why and gathered the pertinent information…
…it’s time to prepare the scope of the work.
Once this process has been finished for the complete project, we’ll have a Scope of Work ready to be transferred to the Proposal template.
Next, we’ll start figuring out the prices for individual items using the Worksheet and Data Base.