The Delay That’s Costing You Sales: Are You Losing Customers by Quoting Too Late?

How many deals have you lost because your quote arrived too late? Picture a homeowner who asks three window‑replacement companies for quotes. You promise to send a detailed estimate “as soon as possible,” but one of your competitors gets an offer out the very same day. What happens next? Most likely, the client goes with the company that quoted first. In fact, industry data shows that 78 % of homeowners buy from the first company that responds to their request. Put simply, if your competitor delivers a quote before you do, they’ve all but locked in the sale. A fast reply not only gives you a statistical edge; it creates an instant impression of professionalism that today’s customers expect.

Why Do Quotes Take So Long?

In the window‑replacement industry, preparing a fully detailed quote with plans still takes more than an hour—and often days—in many shops. That clashes with modern expectations: 82 % of homeowners expect a reply in under 10 minutes after asking for information. If your company needs hours or days to send an estimate, chances are that by the time you hit “send,” the client has already moved on with a faster vendor.

What causes these long quoting delays? Several bottlenecks and outdated practices gum up the works:

Outdated systems: Many dealers still rely on clunky “terminal” software that’s slow and unintuitive. One small change can force a full recalculation—burning precious time.
Manual price checks: Need a price for a specialty grid or custom glass? Reps often have to call the supplier and wait for an answer. Each call adds minutes or hours—and if it’s a Friday, it might mean waiting until Monday.
Multiple supplier portals: Dealers carrying more than one brand juggle multiple interfaces. Portal A for vinyl, Portal B for aluminum, plus spreadsheets for everything else. Copy‑pasting data back and forth slows the team and invites errors.
Other operational drag: Drawing plans in separate software, re‑entering data into accounting systems, waiting for “the estimating person” to free up—every extra step is time the customer spends comparing other options.

The outcome: quotes that arrive way too late. Meanwhile, faster competitors armed with modern tools send quotes in under 10 minutes and secure the job before you even reply. In this market, every minute matters.

Windsketch: Quotes in 5 Minutes (or Less)

To stop bleeding deals, you need to modernize and speed up your quoting process. Windsketch was built for window and door dealers, removing bottlenecks so you can deliver professional estimates at record speed. With Windsketch you can produce a detailed quote with installation plans in less than five minutes—ten at most for very large projects. Here’s how:

All suppliers in one platform: Windsketch aggregates multiple manufacturers’ price lists in a single, unified interface. No more jumping between portals or re‑keying data. All pricing is live and ready to use.
Automated, accurate calculations: Prices and dimensions update instantly as you design the job. No manual math, no overlooked line items, and no nasty surprises for you or the homeowner.
Instant plans and diagrams: As you add products, Windsketch simultaneously draws a precise installation map. When you’re finished, you export a polished PDF that includes both the cost breakdown and a clear layout—ready to send within minutes.
Speed = more closed deals: What once took hours now happens in a fraction of the time. Tell the customer, “Give me five minutes and I’ll show you the full quote”—and watch how quickly trust (and signatures) follow. Windsketch also supports e‑signatures and QuickBooks integration, so you can finalize the sale on the spot.

In the fiercely competitive U.S. and Canadian markets, being first to quote can decide who wins the project. The numbers speak loud and clear: the fastest shop wins roughly 78 % of the time. You simply can’t afford to quote slowly. The good news? With Windsketch, you don’t have to.

Ready to stop losing jobs to slower processes? Transform your sales workflow with Windsketch: deliver estimates in minutes, impress homeowners on the first visit, and stay ahead of the competition.

About James Miller

James Miller works as a Customer Support Specialist at Windsketch, a software company for the window and door industry. With a knack for problem-solving and a deep understanding of Windsketch's products, James efficiently resolves client issues, ensuring they get the most out of their software. His technical skills and customer-focused approach have made him a valuable asset to both Windsketch and its customers.