'Free' estimates

[The Medway Handyman]

Aren't of course free to the one doing the estimates.

OK for a £10K conservatory or a £40K extension, but much less so for a £75 job.

People are told on a regular basis to 'get three estimates' and they apply that to jobs of all sizes.

The way I cope at the moment - over the phone - is to say "the labour will be between £65 to £85 and the materials between £10 & £20 - I will only charge for the time taken & the parts used - so a maximum of £105, but more likely less".

That seems to work - what do the panel think?

If it sounds like a weird job I will go around to have a look & quote a fixed price.

Problem is worse with 'remote landlords' - people who live outside the area but rent out properties locally. Arranging with agents/landlord/tenant, collecting & returning keys etc.

So, I'm thinking of saying to them "I'll go around & look, if the job is less that £XX I will do it there and then, if its going to be over £XX I will call you with a quote".

What I'm asking is; how much should £XX be? I'm thinking £75 - does that sound reasonable?

[Roger Mills]

Why does XX need to be a fixed amount? Why not invent a figure for each job based on the description given, and get their permission to do it without further ado as long as that figure will cover it when you actually see the job?

[Dave Liquorice]

You mean like the estimates given from a verbal description over the phone? Take that figure and add =A325 for the time/agro of arranging key collection and return.

I guess the snag is that what TMH gets told may be third hand by the time he gets it. Tennant tells Agent who tells Landlord who tells TMH. "Send three and four pence we are going to a dance".

[ARWadsworth]

And you can always walk away from the job, as I did today.

Customer "How many spotlights are you putting in my dining room?"

Me "None"

Customer "Well I assumed that you would put some in"

Me "Well they are not in the quote, if you want spotlights then they are £20 each"

Customer "I want spotlights and you will fit them and I am not paying a penny more than you quoted"

Me "Would you like a punch in the mouth?"

Customer

And then I walked out and he never said another word. A pity as I really would have liked to have punched him in the gob.

[Appelation Controlee]

---------------8><

So how much would you have charged for that?

[John Rumm]

First one is free, after that they come as a buy one get a knee in the groin free ;-)

[ARWadsworth]

I did not trust the bloke when I looked at the job, which is why I made it a written quote.

I never charge for a few extras if the customer is playing the white man, but asking for downlights to be supplied and fitted for free is taking the piss.