Replacing manual quote requests with an instant online tax depreciation calculator

The challenge

The client had no online way for a prospective property investor to get an indicative tax depreciation estimate. Anyone interested had to contact the office directly and wait for a quote.

Producing that quote meant a staff member manually looking up the applicable depreciation figures for the property and working through the calculation themselves, then writing up and emailing the result, one enquiry at a time.

That manual process was slow for prospective customers wanting a fast, indicative figure, and it took staff time away from paying client work every time a new enquiry came in.

The client also needed a way to keep the underlying rates and building price index (BPI) data current over time, without relying on a developer to change code every time a figure needed updating.

Our approach

1. 01

   Building the calculator engine

   We translated the client's existing manual calculation rules into a React application, replicating the depreciation logic and eligibility checks staff had previously been applying by hand.

2. 02

   Embedding it into their WordPress site

   The client's site runs on WordPress and Elementor, so we built a custom plugin to embed the React calculator directly into the existing site, giving visitors a self-service tool without sending them anywhere else.

3. 03

   Automating instant results by email

   We connected the calculator to the client's SMTP email provider so that as soon as a property investor submits their details, a branded results email is generated and sent automatically to both the customer and the client's own team, replacing the manual quote email entirely.

4. 04

   Giving the client control over the data

   We built admin-editable components so the client's own staff can update depreciation rates and add building price index data themselves in future, without needing a developer involved for routine figure changes.

5. 05

   Refining against real feedback

   We worked through several rounds of client feedback — matching the email and print branding to their visual identity, correcting eligibility logic, adjusting form fields, and updating the layout — before sign-off.

The outcome

Property investors can now get an indicative tax depreciation estimate instantly online, with no manual involvement from the client's staff to produce the initial quote.

Every submission automatically emails a branded results summary to both the customer and the client's team, removing the manual quote-writing step from the process.

The client can update depreciation rates and building price index data themselves as figures change, keeping the tool accurate without ongoing developer involvement for routine updates.