Construction estimates and proposals, from scope to acceptance.
Build the scope, check your costs and markup, and give homeowners a clear proposal to review. Estimating software for residential remodelers and general contractors.
Make the details clear before the job begins
Start with your saved work
Reuse your proposal templates, categories, and line items, then adjust the scope and quantities for this job.
Separate cost from client price
Set unit costs and percentage or dollar markup. Review the selling price before you share the proposal.
Make client options clear
Present alternatives with photos and prices so homeowners can compare what each choice includes.
Collect an online response
Send a proposal for client review, selections, and acceptance. Keep the response connected to the proposal.
Plan for unfinished decisions
Include allowance budgets for materials or finishes that the homeowner has yet to choose.
Follow up with context
Review proposal status and the client’s response so your next conversation starts with the right information.
From the first scope to the client’s decision
Sarah & James Thompson · Full Kitchen Renovation
| Line item | Cost | Markup | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Cabinetry — Shaker Style | Cost$8,400 | Markup25% | Price$10,500 |
| Quartz Countertops (45 SF) | Cost$5,850 | Markup20% | Price$7,020 |
| Tile Backsplash Install | Cost$2,200 | Markup30% | Price$2,860 |
| Appliance Package — Premium | Cost$6,100 | Markup15% | Price$7,015 |
Grand Total
$27,395
Estimate view: internal costs, markup, and client prices.
Build the scope. Then check the numbers.
Start a kitchen remodel from your saved template, add the work this home needs, and review each quantity, cost, and markup. Keep the estimate grounded in how you price a job.
- Reuse your own line items, categories, and proposal templates
- Adjust quantities and unit costs for the project
- Set percentage or dollar markup separately from cost
- Review totals and scope before sending
Kitchen island
Laminate
$2,800
Quartz
$4,200
Marble
$5,800
Give homeowners choices they can compare.
A countertop upgrade should come with a clear description and price. Present alternatives in the proposal, and use allowance budgets when a finish is still undecided.
- Show option photos, descriptions, and prices
- Let clients choose from the alternatives you provide
- Keep selected options with the accepted proposal
- Use allowances for decisions that come later
Sarah & James Thompson · Full Kitchen Renovation
| Line item | Cost | Markup | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Cabinetry — Shaker Style | Cost$8,400 | Markup25% | Price$10,500 |
| Quartz Countertops (45 SF) | Cost$5,850 | Markup20% | Price$7,020 |
| Tile Backsplash Install | Cost$2,200 | Markup30% | Price$2,860 |
| Appliance Package — Premium | Cost$6,100 | Markup15% | Price$7,015 |
Grand Total
$27,395
Estimate view: internal costs, markup, and client prices.
Send a proposal that explains the work.
Help the homeowner understand the scope, the price, and the decisions they need to make. Share the proposal through Kaliun’s client portal for review and acceptance.
- Organize the scope into clear sections and line items
- Include relevant project details and client options
- Review proposal status before following up
- Keep the client’s response and accepted pricing on record
Contract signing
Contract — Nguyen Full Remodel
CTR-2026-0034 · $135,000.00
CLIENT SIGNATURE
David Nguyen
Move from an accepted proposal to the next step.
Create an invoice from the proposal’s line items and selected options when you are ready to bill. If your process includes a separate contract, send it through Kaliun’s contract signing workflow.
- Record the proposal acceptance and selected pricing
- Create an invoice from the proposal when you choose
- Link the invoice to the project as a separate step
- Send a separate contract for signatures when needed
Keep the next step connected
Construction CRM
Keep inquiries and follow-ups organized as a lead develops into a proposal.
Job Costing
Use invoice line-item costs for the project budget, then track expenses and actual payments.
Invoicing & Payments
Create an invoice from proposal line items and selected options when you are ready to bill.
Questions about estimates and proposals
Can I reuse my own estimate and proposal templates?
Yes. Save and reuse proposal templates, categories, and line items. For a kitchen remodel, you could start with your usual demolition, cabinetry, and installation scope, then adjust quantities, costs, and allowances for that home. Review the details before sending each proposal. See the remodeler workflow.
How do clients accept a proposal? Is that the same as signing a contract?
Clients can review a proposal, choose available options, and accept or decline through the portal. Kaliun records the response and the accepted pricing. Proposal acceptance and contract signing are separate workflows: when you need a signed contract, send a contract through the contract signing workflow. Review the workflow in a demo.
Can homeowners compare options and make selections online?
Yes. Add client-selectable alternatives with their own descriptions, photos, and prices. The homeowner can select from the options you make available. You can also include an allowance budget for a finish that has not been chosen yet; later project allowance selections have their own workflow. Explore the client portal.
What happens after a proposal is accepted?
Acceptance records the selected options and pricing. You can then create an invoice from the proposal’s line items and selected options. Link the invoice to the project separately. Project budgeted costs come from invoice line-item costs; accepting a proposal does not by itself set up the project budget. See how job costing works.
Can I set costs, markup, and client prices separately?
Yes. Estimate line items support quantities, unit costs, and percentage or dollar markup to calculate the client price. Markup is added to cost; margin is profit as a share of the selling price. For example, a $1,000 cost with 25% markup has a $1,250 selling price and a 20% margin before other costs. Try the markup calculator.
Can AI help draft an estimate or proposal?
Yes. Kaliun can draft proposal content using project scope, relevant saved templates, and reference files. Review the draft’s scope, quantities, costs, and prices before using it. AI drafting does not replace a site assessment, supplier quotes, or your pricing judgment. Request an estimating walkthrough.
Is Kaliun a fit for residential remodelers and general contractors?
Kaliun connects estimates and proposals with client decisions, invoices, and project work. If your jobs involve homeowner options, allowances, or subcontractor costs, bring an example project to a demo. Use it to check how the workflow fits your team’s estimating and project process. Explore the general contractor workflow.
Does Kaliun supply current local material and labor prices?
The estimating workflow uses the costs and saved line items you provide. Confirm current supplier prices, labor rates, quantities, and job conditions yourself. AI-generated amounts also need review; they should not be treated as verified local quotes. Discuss your estimating setup.
What should I bring to an estimating demo?
Bring a typical estimate, a scope of work, your usual cost and markup approach, and an example of a client option or allowance. We can walk through building the proposal, collecting a response, and creating an invoice, then discuss plans and setup needs. See plans and pricing.