Turn your job notes into a professional estimate

How to do it

1. 1

   During or after your site visit, take rough notes on your phone: what needs doing, approximate materials, estimated hours, any complications you noticed

2. 2

   Open Claude.ai and paste this prompt with your notes:

3. 3

   PROMPT: 'Please write a professional contractor estimate based on these site notes: [paste your notes]. Format it as: project description in plain language, scope of work as bullet points, materials list with rough costs, labour estimate, subtotal and total, payment terms (50% deposit upfront, 50% on completion), and a professional closing note. My business is [your name or company], I am a [trade — electrician/plumber/carpenter/etc] based in Burnaby BC.'

4. 4

   BEFORE USING THIS ESTIMATE: Check every number yourself. Add up the line items. Verify your hourly rate is applied correctly. Adjust materials costs to what you actually pay your suppliers — Claude does not know your prices.

5. 5

   Add your logo and contact information

6. 6

   Send as a PDF — Google Docs has a free export to PDF option

Watch out for

• ⚠

  ALWAYS check the math yourself before sending — this is your estimate, your reputation. AI arithmetic errors on quotes can cost you money or lose you clients.

• ⚠

  Claude will invent a materials price list based on general knowledge — these are rough guides only. Replace every cost with your actual supplier prices.

• ⚠

  Read the scope of work carefully — sometimes Claude adds or omits things based on how you phrased your notes. The scope defines what you are agreeing to do.

• ⚠

  Save a good estimate as a template prompt. Paste it in next time and ask Claude to adapt it for the new job — your output improves significantly with a real example to follow.