Guide
How to quote a pergola in 7 steps
A complete pergola quote takes 5–10 minutes with a 3D configurator — and installers who deliver the quote on the site visit close 2–3× more often than those who send it days later. This guide walks through every step from qualification to signed PDF.
Step 1: Qualify the lead
Before the site visit, confirm budget range, installation timeline, attached vs free-standing, and whether the customer wants motorization. A 5-minute call avoids a wasted visit.
Step 2: Measure the site
Capture footprint (width × projection), available height, attachment surface (wall, roof, ground), wind exposure and the nearest electrical supply. Photograph all four sides of the patio.
Step 3: Pick a pergola model
Match the brief to a model: bioclimatic louvre for sun + rain control, retractable fabric for budget-conscious shade, cantilever for unobstructed view, attached for wall mounting, free-standing for open gardens.
Step 4: Configure options in 3D
In a pergola configurator, set dimensions, then add motorization, LED lighting, sliding screens, heaters, sensors, blade orientation and RAL colour. The 3D scene updates live so the customer sees what they're buying.
Step 5: Show AR preview on the patio
Place the configured pergola on the customer's patio at true scale through their phone. AR converts about 30% of in-home visits that would otherwise end in 'let me think about it'.
Step 6: Generate the branded PDF quote
Click once to produce a PDF with renders, dimensioned drawings, itemised price, payment terms, lead time and offer validity. Send by email or WhatsApp before leaving the site.
Step 7: Follow up on a schedule
Set automated follow-ups at day 2, day 7 and day 14. About 60% of pergola sales close on the second or third touch, not the first.
FAQ
- How long does it take to quote a pergola?
- With a 3D configurator, a complete branded PDF quote for a configured pergola takes 5–10 minutes — fast enough to do on the site visit. Manual quoting in a spreadsheet plus a CAD model typically takes 1–3 hours and pushes the quote 24–72 hours after the visit.
- What should a pergola quote include?
- Customer details, pergola model and dimensions, all selected options (motorization, lighting, screens, sensors, RAL colour), 3D renders, dimensioned drawings, itemised price, VAT, installation cost, payment terms, lead time, offer validity and warranty terms.
- How do I price a custom pergola?
- Use a configurator with the manufacturer's catalog loaded. Each option (blade, motor, LED metre, screen square metre) is priced and totals automatically. Manual pricing in a spreadsheet is the largest source of margin leakage in pergola sales.
- Should I quote on the first visit or after?
- On the first visit, always. Sales data from outdoor-living installers consistently shows close-rates 2–3x higher when the customer leaves the visit with a signed-or-near-signed quote in hand, vs receiving it days later.