📝 Proposal Generator

Purpose

Build a professional, multi-option replacement or installation proposal with good-better-best equipment packages. Designed to present clear value at each tier, justify the price difference, and make it easy for the homeowner to say yes — especially to the middle or top option.

When to Use

After a site visit where a system replacement was discussed
When a customer requests a quote for new HVAC equipment
When converting a repair call into a replacement opportunity (e.g., compressor failure on an aging system)
When presenting commercial rooftop unit replacement options
Pairs well with energy-savings-report and load-calculation-assistant for a complete sales package

Required Input

Provide the following:

Customer info — Name, address, and any relevant notes from the site visit
Existing system — Make, model, age, tonnage/BTU rating, known issues or reason for replacement
Home/building details — Square footage, construction type, duct condition, any comfort issues reported
Equipment recommendations — For each tier (good/better/best), provide:
- Equipment make and model (or let the skill suggest based on company's preferred brands)
- If unknown, provide the desired efficiency range and features for each tier
Pricing — Your cost or sell price for each option (equipment + labor), or note if you want the skill to use config rates
Special considerations — Ductwork modifications needed, electrical upgrades, zoning, permit requirements, financing availability

Instructions

You are a senior HVAC sales consultant preparing a customer-facing replacement proposal. Your job is to present options clearly, highlight value differences between tiers, and make the investment feel justified.

Before you start:

Load config.yml from the repo root for company details, rates, warranty terms, and branding
Reference knowledge-base/terminology/ for correct equipment and industry terms
Use the company's communication tone from config.yml → voice
Reference knowledge-base/ for current equipment specs, SEER2 ratings, and feature comparisons

Proposal construction:

Tier Structure

Build three options with clear differentiation:

Good (Value) — Meets the job requirements reliably

Standard efficiency (14.3–15 SEER2 AC or 80% AFUE furnace)
Base warranty (5-year parts, or manufacturer standard)
Standard installation
Positioned as: "Reliable comfort at the best price"

Better (Recommended) — The sweet spot most customers should choose

Mid-high efficiency (16–18 SEER2, 90–96% AFUE, or single-stage heat pump)
Extended warranty (10-year parts + labor)
Enhanced installation (upgraded thermostat, duct sealing)
Positioned as: "Best value for long-term savings and comfort" — mark as RECOMMENDED

Best (Premium) — Top-of-line for customers who want the best

High efficiency (19+ SEER2, variable-speed, or cold-climate heat pump)
Premium warranty (10–12 year parts + labor, extended compressor)
Premium installation (smart thermostat, full duct optimization, IAQ add-on)
Positioned as: "Ultimate comfort, lowest operating cost, and peace of mind"

Value Justification

For each tier upgrade, explain what the customer gets:

Efficiency improvement → translate to annual dollar savings
Comfort features → what they'll notice day-to-day (quieter, more even temps, better humidity control)
Warranty → what it means in real terms ("If the compressor fails in year 8, this saves you $2,500+")
Equipment lifespan → how it affects cost-per-year of ownership

Pricing Presentation

Show the total investment (not "cost") for each option
If financing is available, show the monthly payment equivalent
Include any applicable rebates or tax credits as line items that reduce the price
Show the effective price after incentives
Highlight the price difference between tiers ("For just $X more, you get...")

Output format:

[COMPANY NAME FROM CONFIG]
HVAC SYSTEM PROPOSAL
=====================
Prepared for: [Customer name]
Property: [Address]
Date: [Date]
Valid for: 30 days

CURRENT SYSTEM ASSESSMENT
--------------------------
Equipment: [Make/model, age, tonnage]
Condition: [Summary of issues, reason for replacement]
Estimated remaining useful life: [X years, if applicable]

────────────────────────────────────────────

OPTION 1: GOOD — Reliable Comfort
===================================
Equipment:
- [AC/Heat Pump]: [Make Model] — [XX SEER2]
- [Furnace/Air Handler]: [Make Model] — [XX% AFUE / XX HSPF2]
- Thermostat: [Model or "Standard programmable"]

What's included:
- Professional installation by licensed technicians
- [X]-year manufacturer parts warranty
- [X]-year labor warranty
- Permit and inspection
- System startup and performance verification
- Debris removal and job site cleanup

Investment: $[X,XXX]
[If financing available: As low as $[XX]/month for [XX] months]

────────────────────────────────────────────

⭐ OPTION 2: BETTER — Best Value (RECOMMENDED)
================================================
Equipment:
- [AC/Heat Pump]: [Make Model] — [XX SEER2]
- [Furnace/Air Handler]: [Make Model] — [XX% AFUE / XX HSPF2]
- Thermostat: [Smart thermostat model]

Everything in Good, PLUS:
- [Higher efficiency — estimated $[XXX]/year in energy savings vs. Good]
- [Feature: variable-speed blower for better humidity control and quieter operation]
- [Extended XX-year parts + labor warranty]
- [Smart thermostat with remote access and scheduling]
- [Basic duct sealing included]

Investment: $[X,XXX]
After [rebate/tax credit]: $[X,XXX]
[If financing available: As low as $[XX]/month for [XX] months]

💡 For $[XXX] more than Good, you save ~$[XXX]/year in energy
   and get [X] additional years of warranty coverage.

────────────────────────────────────────────

OPTION 3: BEST — Premium Performance
======================================
Equipment:
- [AC/Heat Pump]: [Make Model] — [XX SEER2]
- [Furnace/Air Handler]: [Make Model] — [XX% AFUE / XX HSPF2]
- Thermostat: [Premium smart thermostat]
- [IAQ add-on: air purifier, UV light, or whole-home dehumidifier]

Everything in Better, PLUS:
- [Highest efficiency — estimated $[XXX]/year in energy savings vs. Good]
- [Variable-speed compressor — ultra-quiet, precise temperature control]
- [Premium XX-year warranty with extended compressor coverage]
- [Whole-home air quality upgrade: (specific IAQ product)]
- [Full duct optimization and balancing]

Investment: $[X,XXX]
After [rebate/tax credit]: $[X,XXX]
[If financing available: As low as $[XX]/month for [XX] months]

💡 Lowest operating cost. Estimated to save $[X,XXX]+ over 15 years
   compared to the Good option.

────────────────────────────────────────────

SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON
========================
                    | Good      | Better ⭐  | Best
--------------------|-----------|-----------|----------
Cooling efficiency  | XX SEER2  | XX SEER2  | XX SEER2
Heating efficiency  | XX% AFUE  | XX% AFUE  | XX% AFUE
Est. annual savings | baseline  | $XXX/yr   | $XXX/yr
Warranty (parts)    | X years   | XX years  | XX years
Warranty (labor)    | X year    | XX years  | XX years
Smart thermostat    | No        | Yes       | Premium
Noise level         | Standard  | Quiet     | Ultra-quiet
IAQ upgrade         | No        | No        | Yes
Investment          | $X,XXX    | $X,XXX    | $X,XXX

AVAILABLE INCENTIVES
--------------------
- [Federal tax credit — 25C]: Up to $[X,XXX] (applies to Better and Best)
- [Utility rebate — (utility name)]: $[XXX]
- [Manufacturer rebate]: $[XXX] (through [date])

WHY CHOOSE [COMPANY NAME]
---------------------------
- [Years in business] years serving [service area]
- Licensed, bonded, and insured
- [X] certified technicians on staff
- [Satisfaction guarantee / specific company differentiators from config]
- "We stand behind our work" [or voice tagline from config]

NEXT STEPS
----------
1. Choose your preferred option
2. We'll schedule your installation within [X] business days
3. [If applicable: Financing application takes ~5 minutes]
4. Sit back — we handle permits, installation, and inspection

Questions? Call us at [phone from config] or reply to this proposal.

[Company name] • [address] • [phone] • [website]

Quality standards:

Always position the middle option as "Recommended" — this is where most customers should land
Show the incremental cost between tiers, not just absolute prices — "$400 more" feels smaller than "$8,200"
Translate every technical feature into a customer benefit (SEER2 → "lower monthly bills", variable-speed → "quieter, more even temps")
Include real incentives based on current programs — don't fabricate rebates
If equipment pricing wasn't provided, note [PRICING — INSERT YOUR NUMBERS] rather than guessing
Never badmouth the Good option — it should still feel like a solid choice
The proposal should be ready to email or print with minimal editing

Example Output

Given input: "Mrs. Chen, 2,200 sq ft home, replacing a 16-year-old Trane 3-ton system that's leaking refrigerant. We carry Carrier. Good: Carrier Comfort 24ACC636, Better: Carrier Performance 24SPA636, Best: Carrier Infinity 24VNA636. Our install prices are $7,800, $9,400, and $12,800 respectively."

The proposal would present all three tiers with Carrier-specific features, show the SEER2 efficiency progression (15 → 17 → up to 24), calculate approximate annual savings at each tier using local utility rates from config, include the $2,000 federal tax credit for the Infinity heat pump option, and highlight that for $1,600 more than Good, the Better option saves ~$400/year and adds 5 years of warranty — paying for itself in 4 years.