A few small errors in the estimating process can add up to big losses. In 2010, Dave Wright’s installation foremen complained that he was missing details during estimating, which in turn hurt Wright Landscape Services’ efficiency.

To address the issue, Wright, president of the Bloomingdale, Ontario-based firm, asked his team to create a site visit checklist he could use to ensure he captured all the information they needed to complete an installation job on time and on budget.

“Basically, they saw a problem, and I gave them ownership to come up with the solution,” Wright says. “It’s going to be different for every company, but the most important thing is the guys who it’s affecting have to come up with it. If it’s owner-driven, it’s not going to be effective.”

The simple Word document ensured Wright and the company’s other estimators would collect information like gate access (distance between the fence posts), downspout locations, porch elevations and more. The savings are about three to six man-hours per job, Wright estimates, which can really add up.