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4 Pitfalls to watch out for when doing auto repair estimating?

It’s possible you’ve put in place some automobile shop management software standards around your business operations, but the effectiveness of this may appear insignificant if you keep missing out on one aspect – invoicing. This is basically why auto repair estimates have to be thoughtfully generated, with reference to all the variables that are feasible in the course of rendering a service. However, certain pitfalls exist that could cause the most trustworthy auto repair service provider to end up shortchanging – in terms of profit realized – himself. Some of the pitfalls and ways of avoiding them are briefly discussed in this write-up.

Missing out on compensation for equipment/tools

More often than not, auto repair service providers are so into getting the job done that they go ahead to only present estimates or invoicing around spare parts and service charges. They leave out – maybe intentionally or not – compensation for the tools or equipment they will use in performing the job. This is mostly seen with auto shops where such tools are internally owned. However, an auto service provider that would hire such equipment will certainly factor in the cost. So, if you’re an auto shop owner, you should determine the cost of using a particular tool beforehand, and always make sure this is included in the invoice you’ll be expecting customers to clear.

Inadequacy in price communication

This is another pitfall seen when creating invoices and seems to have festered as a result of negligence. Most auto repair service providers fall into this trap as they fail to put customers through the price determinants that make the estimate or invoice. But you needn’t assume that your customers do not care about what it will take to get their automobiles fixed. You should do your best to make everything about the set prices known to them – talk about replacements, diagnostics, tool usage, and so on. Everything, including taxes, should be well-detailed; no hidden charges should be included.

Leaving out certain car parts

Forgetting or failing to include all the parts that have to be replaced as a result of incomplete or rushed-up estimates is yet possible. This could create an untidied or delayed job in the long run. Imagine getting to discover that a part had not been taken care of after giving a date for the customers to come and pick up his/her car. In such a scenario, you will have to start doing some late-minute run-around trying to get spare parts – which doesn’t speak well of your efficiency.

Closely related to this is the pitfall of not creating an R&I (remove and install) and R&R (remove and replace) list. This could also bring about the development of an incomprehensive auto repair estimate. To address these issues, you should ensure that you have competent hands on the ground to handle your shop’s estimation needs. Optionally, you can automate the process by getting an automotive shop management software that could be utilized for generating cost estimates.

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