Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Construction Discovery Visit
• Preconstruction Planning Package
• Contractor Consultation Fee
• Renovation Client Agreement
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

Introduction

What this covers: a practical method to start charging for your initial site walk, what to deliver so clients see value, and how to turn that first meeting into a fast, confident yes. Why it matters: small teams burn 6–10 hours a week on unpaid visits and back-and-forth messages that rarely convert. How to do it: sell a small, clearly defined pre-work service with tangible outputs, invoice it upfront, and credit it if the client proceeds.

Two quick realities from the field:

• When you put real structure around the first visit, you filter tire-kickers and attract decisive clients.
• Across our network in France, Italy, and Spain, teams who formalized the first step report shorter sales cycles and fewer price-only conversations.

Pro tip: You don’t need a big rebrand. Keep your company’s voice, add a tight scope and deliverables, and make payment effortless.

Ready to package this and get paid before you plan? Create and send the first-visit invoice in minutes with Donizo — correct VAT, payment links, and tracking included.

Construction Discovery Visit

Your goal on the first appointment is not to design the project for free; it’s to collect the minimum data you need to price confidently and set expectations. Market norms by country:

• France: many pros offer a “forfait déplacement et diagnostic” (€80–€250), often credited on acceptance.
• Italy: “sopralluogo tecnico” is commonly valued (€70–€200) when it includes a basic measurement set and photo log.
• Spain: “visita técnica” fees (€50–€150) gain buy-in when clients see a written summary and next steps within 24–48 hours.

What to do on site in 30–60 minutes:

1. Clarify rooms, surfaces, and access constraints (lift, courtyard, street parking, quiet hours).
2. Measure the critical dimensions only; avoid full takeoffs now.
3. Document utilities, ventilation, and substrate conditions that impact methods and warranties.
4. Identify risks that may change scope (damp, out-of-plumb walls, non-compliant electrics).
5. Agree the decision timeline: who decides, by when, how you’ll communicate.

Deliverables the client receives within 24–48 hours:

Keep it tight. You’re selling clarity, not a full design. Promise less, deliver precisely what you promised, and follow with a simple acceptance path.

Preconstruction Planning Package

Once the initial visit is complete, offer a compact planning bundle for jobs with unknowns or several trades. It’s a small, paid step before the main works that reduces rework and delays.

When to offer it:

• Apartments with neighbors and strict building rules
• Wet areas, kitchens, or structural openings
• Jobs needing electrical boards, gas checks, or ventilation upgrades

What’s inside the bundle:

• Room-by-room scope outline with inclusions and clear exclusions
• A preliminary sequence so clients see the order of operations (demo, first fix, finishes)
• A light selections checklist (finishes, fittings) with deadlines
• A realistic date window aligned to material availability

How it helps margins and time:

• Fewer last-minute decisions because deadlines are set early
• Better supplier coordination because quantities are estimated sooner
• Reduced callbacks because responsibilities are written down

Fast rollout steps you can implement this week:

1. Name it simply (e.g., “Planning Pack”).
2. Fix a price range by job size (small bath, kitchen facelift, multi-room refresh).
3. Show a one-page sample from a real job (redact addresses).
4. Offer a small credit of the pack value if the client proceeds.

Data point: Cost volatility in 2025 is lower than 2022 peaks, but still not zero. Eurostat’s recent releases show construction cost indices across EU-27 trending modestly higher year-on-year. Clear pre-work keeps you out of price-chasing territory when something shifts.

Bundle your visit notes into a clean summary without extra admin. With Donizo, your on-site voice notes become a formatted recap, ready to send alongside a deposit request.

Contractor Consultation Fee

How to set the amount: anchor your price to the time you truly spend. If your blended hourly cost is €55–€80 (vehicle, time, admin), a 45–60 minute appointment plus travel easily justifies €90–€160. Add value signals (documented findings, next steps) and it feels fair to clients.

Three pricing patterns that work in FR/IT/ES:

• Credit-on-go: client pays now; you credit that amount on the first invoice if they proceed within a set time window.
• No-credit: for urgent calls, diagnostics, or insurance-related issues; the fee stands regardless.
• Distance-based: tier fees by travel zone to cover fuel and time.

How to present it without friction:

• Be direct on the phone: “We book an expert site visit, deliver a written summary within 48 hours, and the visit is credited if you go ahead.”
• Send the booking link and invoice immediately after the call. Most homeowners pay when the next step is obvious.
• Show the deliverables list. People pay for clarity, not mystery.

Simple script you can adapt:

• “To give you an accurate price and timeline, we start with a professional site visit. It’s a small paid step that includes measurements, photos, and a written summary with risks and options. If we proceed with the project within 30 days, we credit the full amount on your first invoice. Would you like to book Tuesday 9:00 or Thursday 16:00?”

Regional notes:

• France: include invoice with the correct VAT for services; credit the value on the project invoice if applicable.
• Italy: issue a proper fattura for the visit and keep it tied to the later contract if you apply a credit.
• Spain: factura for the visit keeps things formal and reduces no-shows.

Renovation Client Agreement

Keep your early paperwork lean but protective. A short, plain-language agreement for the first step avoids misunderstandings and anchors your professionalism.

What to include in one page:

• Scope of the first step only: what you will and won’t do
• Appointment window, access details, and parking needs
• Fee amount, due on booking, refund/credit conditions
• Ownership of outputs: photos and notes are yours; clients can share them with you to proceed
• Validity window: how long your findings and pricing are valid

Key clauses that save headaches:

• Unknowns clause: if hazardous materials, hidden rot, or non-compliant systems are found, you will propose options and pricing changes before proceeding
• Decision timeline: selections or approvals due by specific dates to keep schedule slots
• Communication rule: one channel for approvals to avoid missed messages

Compliance and culture tips by country:

• France: homeowners appreciate clarity on site access in copropriétés (stairwells, quiet hours). Outline how you’ll protect common areas.
• Italy: align visits with condominium rules; put quiet hours and lift usage in writing early.
• Spain: in cities, parking and building porter policies can derail schedules—state them upfront.

Implementation checklist for your next five leads:

1. Offer the paid first step on every call. Don’t self-reject.
2. Send the booking invoice immediately; hold the slot for 24 hours.
3. Deliver the summary inside 48 hours. Speed builds trust.
4. Present the next step with a clear date window and a simple yes path.
5. Track conversion and no-show rates; adjust pricing quarterly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will charging for the first visit scare away good clients?

Serious clients welcome structure. When you state deliverables and credit the fee on go-ahead, the right buyers say yes faster. The fee filters time-wasters while signaling that your time and expertise have value.

Should I waive the fee if the job is big?

Hold the line on the process, not necessarily the money. For larger scopes, you can credit the fee on the first invoice, but still charge it upfront. The commitment upfront keeps both sides focused.

What if a client refuses to pay before meeting?

Offer alternatives: a quick 10-minute phone consult to qualify, or provide a rough budget range via email. If they still refuse, they’re unlikely to value your professional process or timelines.

How do I handle refunds for cancellations?

State it upfront. Common practice: fully refundable with 24–48 hours’ notice, non-refundable inside that window. For weather or building access issues outside the client’s control, offer a free reschedule.

Can I apply the fee to subcontractor site walks?

Yes, but be clear on who attends and what’s delivered. If a specialist is needed (electrician, HVAC), either price a combined visit or schedule a second paid appointment with defined outputs.

Conclusion

Small contractors don’t need more free visits; they need a reliable, paid first step that turns interest into decisions. Package a short on-site appointment with crisp deliverables, invoice it upfront, and set a fast follow-up window. In France, Italy, and Spain, this approach respects clients’ time and yours, leading to quicker yeses and fewer disputes later.

Next steps you can do today:

• Set your first-visit price based on real time and travel
• Prepare a one-page deliverables sample and a short agreement
• Add the booking step to your call script and email template

Make it easy for clients to pay and for you to track. Use Donizo to issue the visit invoice with correct tax, log the appointment, turn voice notes into a clean summary, and credit the amount automatically when the job proceeds. That’s how you protect your time, your margins, and your reputation—without adding admin.