Mike Andes explains how recording short "estimate videos" immediately after every estimate saves time and eliminates the need for repeat site visits. He describes his five-year learning arc, then gives concrete operational instructions: record a 2–3 minute walkthrough after each estimate (regardless of acceptance), post it to an "Estimate Videos" channel or WhatsApp group with the customer’s last name, and rely on that video plus the estimate notes so foremen and schedulers can prepare without the estimator returning to the property. The system reduces morning travel and prevents schedule confusion during busy seasons.
Chapters
Feels stupid that I didn't do any of these things in the first place. No, dude, it seems so simple, but it. I spent five years and the only reason I came up with estimate videos is because I was spending the first three hours of my morning going from project to project, walking the job site with them. Yeah, a video does the exact same thing. But now you do the video after every single estimate, regardless if they accept or not. You're doing the video, posting it to the channel with their last name, and you never, ever think about it again. Every time you go to an estimate at the end of that estimate, you talk to Mr. Jones. You're talking about a 10, $15,000 shoot, a three minute video of what that project supposed to look like. Okay? You're going to have a separate WhatsApp channel called Estimate Videos. And you're going to post that video with the last name of the customer attached so that in four weeks when it's on the schedule, he's going to pull it up alongside the estimate notes and have exactly what he should be doing as a foreman. And then the expectation is between the estimate notes and the video that I shot right after talking to the customer. I should never have to go back to the property as the estimate. Yeah, and if you do, there's a breakdown in that system. And what's nice about the WhatsApp group, now he can search by the last name of a customer inside WhatsApp and immediately pull up their job. And if it's five weeks ago, you're not having to go to the property. Remember what's going on. You don't even remember what the job was five, six weeks ago. When you're in the middle of spring rush.
