Hi, we need to have some roofing/building work done. (repair rather than new build).
Most of them seem to advertise ?free estimates?. Being the cynical sor t I suspect this is so they can then charge more than the estimate rather t han giving a quote.
However one chap said that (i) a quote would be deliberately high to allow for contingencies, so we might end up paying more by having a quote rather than an estimate and (ii) if it was discovered that extra work needs doing, a firm that has give n a quote may just bodge it/ cover it up as they are working to a fixed pri ce, rather than bringing attention to any extra work and informing us of t he cost before proceeding further (although if that happened would we reall y be in a position to say no to the extra). (he subsequently gave a written estimate rather than a quote). Part of me thinks he has a point, but on the other hand is this just part o f his sales spiel ?
What does the collective wisdom of the newsgroup think ?
Is it better to request a quote or an estimate ? (thinking of other firms r ather than just this one)
Thanks.
P.S. I am posting this to uk.d-i-y and uk.legal. If anybody thinks a diffe rent group is more appropriate please let me know.