How to ask a client questions before sending an estimate

[fedhillphoto]

Hello, 

I've been invited by Upwork’s Talent Solutions team to bid on a job. In order to evaluate if I'm a good fit, I need to ask the client some questions, but cannot find a means to do that. Clicking Accept Interview ostensibly "starts the discussion", but it requires I put in an estimate. This is backwards, I need to ask questions of the client _before_ I estimate cost. How do I get in contact with the client to ask questions _before_ I send them an estimate? 

TIA, 

Carl

[prestonhunter]

Send a proposal. Ask questions as part of your proposal cover letter.

An initial proposal DOES NOT COMMIT you to anything. It is simply the beginning of a conversation.

re: "How do I get in contact with the client to ask questions _before_ I send them an estimate?"

You can't do that.

If you are caught trying to do that, your Upwork account could be suspended or terminated.

[kinector]

Good question, Carl. I remember wondering about the same thing myself at first.

This is what I do:

- Write a good proposal but keep it short as the client has already found my profile interesting (even if via the Talent Specialist).

- Add my estimate for something that I think the client is probably asking to deliver.

- Add a clear explanation about what is included in that price.

- Add a list of other things that could be included in the project with a mention that those would need more discussion and an additional budget.

This way I have a solid proposal, a clear price tag, but I don't lock myself to anything hazardous during the first contact.

Then, once I get a reply, I can do all my inquiries and edit the proposal with the final price tag.

This has worked pretty for me well so far.