Quick answer: Ask what result the customer wants, which areas are included, what has been selected, what access is available and when decisions are needed. Confirm constraints and unresolved conditions before promising a final price or start date.

A first visit is both a scope assessment and a decision conversation. The questions should help you write the right proposal, not force a sale before the customer has enough information.

Start with the intended result

Ask what prompted the work and what the customer wants changed. Distinguish a repair from a broader remodel. Confirm which rooms or elevations are part of the request and whether adjacent work is expected.

When a customer describes a cause, record it as their report unless it has been verified. The desired finish and the technical assessment are related but separate parts of the record.

Ask about decisions that change the scope

Which materials or fixtures have been selected?
Who is supplying them?
What surrounding finishes should be restored?
Which work is essential and which is optional?
Who needs to review the proposal?
Are there drawings, prior reports or relevant quotes to review?

Do not turn an unresolved preference into a specification. “White vanity” still leaves dimensions, model and related parts to confirm. Record the information required before ordering and final pricing.

Check access and practical constraints

Ask about occupied areas, staging, protected belongings and permitted access. Identify work that needs another qualified trade or an additional assessment. Confirm what can be inspected today and what remains concealed.

Discuss the customer's desired timing, then explain what needs checking before you commit. Materials, crew capacity and project approvals may affect the schedule. An estimate delivery date and a work start date are different commitments.

Site-visit decision record
Question	Record for the estimate
What is the result?	Customer priority and defined work areas
What is selected?	Confirmed specification or pending decision
What is accessible?	Inspected areas and limitations
What affects timing?	Required quotes, selections and capacity checks
Who reviews?	Appropriate proposal recipients and next conversation

Discuss budget without inventing a price

If appropriate, ask whether the customer has a planning budget or needs options. Use that information to identify scope choices. Do not present a rough impression as a verified fixed price.

If a preliminary range is useful, explain its assumptions and what is still missing. Only provide a range you can support from the actual project and your business inputs.

End with a recap that prevents surprises

“We discussed [base work] in [areas]. [Selection or inspection] remains open. The proposal will include [boundary] and list [optional work] separately. I will update you by [realistic date]. We can review it through [agreed contact method].”

Capture your own scope summary by voice if useful. If recording someone else's conversation, follow applicable consent requirements. Use project photos with appropriate permission and keep private details in the authorized job file.

SnapDamage supports photos, spoken scope notes and editable estimates from the project record. Use the room card during capture and the follow-up guide after delivery.

Frequently asked questions

Should I close the job on the first visit?

Proceed only when the customer has the needed information and the appropriate scope and approval process is ready. A first visit does not require a rushed commitment.

What if another decision-maker is absent?

Confirm who should receive and review the proposal. Avoid assuming the person present can finalize every selection or approval.

What is the most useful final question?

Ask whether the recap matches the customer's intended work and which decision still needs clarification. Record the answer before writing the estimate.