DunRite
New member
Gents
I know in our industry we basically go out (if we go out) view a job and give an estimate- either written or verbal
I posted my dilemma once before (maybe on another industry forum, idk) regarding people who seek estimates so they can shop them
Recently, and in the past, every so often ill get a call asking for an estimate for say painting some rooms
Ill go to the house,meet the client, do a walk through and come up with a detailed proposal that i usually email
sometimes ill present it on the spot if after talking with them feel like i can close it- otherwise it does take some time as they are usually somewhat more involved than PW bids
So i had a guy call me, request an estimate which i went out on, spent time there (1 hr+) asked him if i had everything and emailed him a proposal
He calls me back a few days later and says there are a couple of things he wants to add that we didn't discuss (which i thought was strange as i was clear when i was there i had everything) and if i could come back out. i asked what they were and it was a few doors which i told him that i could just include.
He calls again wishing to add more stuff that he forgot about (basement) and asks if i will come out to look at it.
I asked him if in a perfect world if i went back out and included the other work in my bid and everything seemed good ( the scope, the price) are you considering likely to hiring me- he says YES- that he liked me , my company, etc and would definitely hire me
I was skeptical he was shopping my bid so i told him i would come out but i would have to charge him $250 which he could apply to the contract price afterward. I explained my time is valuable and if he was going to probably use me anyway it wouldnt cost him anything.
After hearing that he balked- "Arent your estimates free?" to which i reiterated my position
He declined and i havent heard from him since
Just curious what you guys think about this
I know in our industry we basically go out (if we go out) view a job and give an estimate- either written or verbal
I posted my dilemma once before (maybe on another industry forum, idk) regarding people who seek estimates so they can shop them
Recently, and in the past, every so often ill get a call asking for an estimate for say painting some rooms
Ill go to the house,meet the client, do a walk through and come up with a detailed proposal that i usually email
sometimes ill present it on the spot if after talking with them feel like i can close it- otherwise it does take some time as they are usually somewhat more involved than PW bids
So i had a guy call me, request an estimate which i went out on, spent time there (1 hr+) asked him if i had everything and emailed him a proposal
He calls me back a few days later and says there are a couple of things he wants to add that we didn't discuss (which i thought was strange as i was clear when i was there i had everything) and if i could come back out. i asked what they were and it was a few doors which i told him that i could just include.
He calls again wishing to add more stuff that he forgot about (basement) and asks if i will come out to look at it.
I asked him if in a perfect world if i went back out and included the other work in my bid and everything seemed good ( the scope, the price) are you considering likely to hiring me- he says YES- that he liked me , my company, etc and would definitely hire me
I was skeptical he was shopping my bid so i told him i would come out but i would have to charge him $250 which he could apply to the contract price afterward. I explained my time is valuable and if he was going to probably use me anyway it wouldnt cost him anything.
After hearing that he balked- "Arent your estimates free?" to which i reiterated my position
He declined and i havent heard from him since
Just curious what you guys think about this