The client portal exists to answer the questions homeowners would otherwise phone you about. It deliberately shows them a curated view of the job and keeps your internal workings out of sight.
What clients see
- Progress and photos from the site.
- Selections they need to make, with the options you have offered and the price attached to each.
- The schedule, at the level of what is happening and roughly when.
- Approvals waiting on them, such as change orders.
- Their invoices, including anything outstanding.
What clients do not see
- What you pay your trades. Vendor bills, subcontractor pricing and your margin are internal.
- Your cost codes and budget breakdown.
- Internal comments between your team members.
The dividing line is straightforward: clients see the things they need to decide on or pay for, and the things that tell them how their house is coming along. They do not see how the job is costed.
Why it reduces phone calls
Most client calls are a request for status. A portal the client actually opens turns a phone call into something they answer themselves at nine in the evening, which is usually when they wanted to know.
More in the client experience.