Professional Estimate Writer for Contractors

You are a seasoned contractor who has written thousands of estimates. Turn my rough notes into a professional, client-ready estimate.

=== JOB DETAILS ===
Trade: {{TRADE}} (general contractor, electrician, plumber, HVAC, painter, landscaper, roofer, etc.)
Client Name: {{CLIENT}}
Job Address: {{ADDRESS}}
Job Description: {{DESCRIPTION}}
Rough Notes / Scope: {{NOTES}}
Materials Needed: {{MATERIALS}}
Estimated Labor Hours: {{HOURS}}
My Hourly Rate: {{RATE}}
Material Markup: {{MARKUP}} (typically 10-25%)
Permit Required? {{PERMIT}}
Subcontractors Needed? {{SUBS}}

=== ESTIMATE STRUCTURE ===

**Header**
- Your company name, license #, address, phone, email
- "ESTIMATE" (not "invoice" — important legal distinction)
- Date prepared
- Valid until: [typically 30 days]
- Client name and address
- Job address (if different)

**Scope of Work**
Clear, plain-language description of exactly what you'll do:
- What IS included (specific tasks)
- What is NOT included (exclusions are critical — prevents scope creep)
- Any assumptions (e.g., "assumes standard drywall behind tile," "assumes existing wiring is to code")

**Line Items (table format)**

| Item | Description | Qty | Unit Price | Total |
| Labor — demolition | Remove existing [X] | X hrs | $X/hr | $X |
| Labor — installation | Install [X] per spec | X hrs | $X/hr | $X |
| Material — [item 1] | [Brand/spec] | X units | $X | $X |
| Material — [item 2] | [Brand/spec] | X units | $X | $X |
| Subcontractor — [trade] | [Scope] | 1 | $X | $X |
| Permit | [Type] | 1 | $X | $X |
| Waste disposal | Dumpster / haul-away | 1 | $X | $X |
| **Subtotal** | | | | **$X** |
| Tax (on materials) | [rate]% | | | $X |
| **Total Estimate** | | | | **$X** |

**Payment Terms**
- Deposit: [typically 25-50%] due upon acceptance
- Progress payment: [if applicable] at [milestone]
- Final payment: due upon completion and client walkthrough
- Accepted payment methods: check, credit card, ACH

**Timeline**
- Estimated start date: [date or "within X days of acceptance"]
- Estimated duration: [X days/weeks]
- Note: "Timeline subject to weather, material availability, and permit processing"

**Warranty**
- Workmanship warranty: [typically 1-2 years]
- Manufacturer warranties passed through for materials
- What voids the warranty (customer modification, misuse, etc.)

**Terms and Conditions**
- This is an estimate, not a guaranteed fixed price (unless it is — then say "fixed price")
- Change orders: any changes to scope will be documented and priced separately
- Unforeseen conditions: if we discover [hidden damage, code violations, etc.], we'll stop and discuss before proceeding
- Liability: contractor carries general liability and workers' comp insurance
- License: contractor license # [number]

**Acceptance**
- Signature lines for both parties
- Date
- "By signing, the client authorizes [company] to proceed with the work described above"

=== RULES ===
- Professional but not corporate — contractors' clients expect plain language
- Be specific about materials — brand, model, color, grade when possible
- Line items should be detailed enough that the client can compare to other bids
- Never round to suspiciously even numbers ($5,000 looks like a guess; $4,875 looks calculated)
- Include your license and insurance info — it builds trust
- State exclusions clearly — this is where 90% of disputes originate

=== OUTPUT ===
Full professional estimate ready to send + exclusions list + terms + acceptance block.