Quoting landscape installs without site visits? Total BS or efficient?

Look, I've been quoting hardscape and plant installs for years, and now everyone's pushing no-site-visit estimates to save time, but it always bites you in the ass with surprises like hidden utilities or weird grading. We're in Texas so the soil varies like crazy, one job I did last month ended up needing an extra 5 yards of gravel because the topo wasn't what the Google Earth pics showed. Clients love the quick bids, but then they complain when the crew shows up and the plan changes. I use Jobber for the software, it spits out quotes fast with templates for retaining walls or mulching beds, but without walking the site, you're gambling on measurements. Fight me if you think it's fine, but I've lost money on two jobs this season already. Saw a similar rant in the Landscaping Professionals FB group about this. Anyone got a better way to estimate without showing up?

Always do a site visit, even if it's just 15 min to measure and note obstacles.

Haha, quoted a backyard reno blind and the 'flat yard' had a 3ft slope, client laughed when I showed up.

Same here, Texas heat makes site visits miserable but necessary.

These quick-quote apps are turning us into guessers, not pros.

I get the rush, but skipping visits is why good landscapers go broke.

Use satellite imagery in your software, it's close enough 80% of the time.

Client demanded a no-visit quote for a full yard overhaul, now they're suing over 'inaccurate estimate'.

LOL, my last blind quote was for irrigation, forgot about their sprinkler heads and ripped one up day one.

Man, the estimating wars in this biz are killing me.

Insurance companies hate surprises too, one bad dig and your rates skyrocket.

Big box stores do it with apps, but they got unlimited redo budget.

Watched Mike Andes on YouTube talk about this, he says site visits are non-negotiable for installs.

Screw the no-visit trend, it's amateur hour.

Add a clause for site verification fee if they push back.

Haha, quoted a tree planting job without seeing the power lines.

Buddy in r/landscaping swore by virtual walkthroughs via Zoom.

Don't get me started on clients who lie about yard access.

These PE-backed firms are forcing no-site quotes to scale, ruining the trade.

Finally got a system with laser measures from the truck, cuts visits in half.

Texas red dirt doesn't show up in pics right, always underbid.

Charge extra for changes after the initial quote, weeds out the cheap ones.