[Noobie]

I may need to replace a water main under the driveway and as this could be quite expensive, I want to talk to a few plumbers and get estimates.
I heard that I might need to pay them for just comming over and giving me an estimate. What would be the fair price for just asking for a quote ?

 

[Bud9051]

Just my opinion, but I would start with the ones who will come over for free. In reality you are doing them a favor by inviting them over to see you face to face and try their best to impress you. If they have grown so busy as to need to charge for estimates, I would suspect their prices are high and they expect a lot of no-calls from their visits. A company that is giving reasonable estimates along with good advice will get a good return for his efforts.

Bud

 

[jimn]

Any contractor who charges me to come over and give me a quote doesn't get asked to give me a quote. It's a cost of doing business . That being said if I were a contractor and didn't think the customer was being serious and was just fishing then I might decline the giving an estimate.

In my neck of the woods I would be likely be dealing with at least two trades, a company to handle the excavation and driveway repair and a plumber to make the actual connections .

 

[ben's plumbing]

get free estimates..... my company does not use subcontractors...they are not trustworthy with my customers... so over the yrs we do our own work with our own equiptment.... but other companies my feel different...good luck on your quotes..

 

[WhatRnsdownhill]

I will give free estimates by verbal , if they want it in writing, I will do it if they seem serious...I charge for insurance estimates and tell them and will put it on the estimate that the cost of the estimate comes off the job when I get it, so it costs nothing to them, too many people shopping for the cheapest, or looking for free advise how to fix something..

 

[mako1]

I did three estimates yesterday.A room addition,a pole building and a custom trim job.The only way I have of knowing how serious the clients are is by what they tell me and their budget. On an addition I can easily spend a couple hours travel and just talking to the customers.Then I have to go back to the shop and figure the the estimate and put it in writing .I want to be very precise about my estimates as I don't want to cheat you but I'm in business to make money .
In total the estimates took most of the day.
If I didn't charge for these estimatesI would have lost a days wages and be out of business before long.The rates I do charge for estimates come off of the cost of the job if you use my services.It also helps weed out a lot of the tire kickers.People have no problem at wasting my time for free estimates with no intention of using my services .Some are looking for my advice so they can get a feel of how to do the jobs themselves and some are planning for a project for a year down the road.

 

[ct18]

Remember cheapest is not always best. Try and get references and see if they have exp. doing that type of job.

 

[Noobie]

Thanks for advices.
Could anyone tell me what would the 'fair' price for asking for a quote ?

 

[WhatRnsdownhill]

I want to buy a truck how much will it be?...can you answer that?

 

[beenthere]

Thanks for advices.
Could anyone tell me what would the 'fair' price for asking for a quote ?

I'm afraid only contractors in your area can answer that question.

 

[Tom738]

I may need to replace a water main under the driveway and as this could be quite expensive, I want to talk to a few plumbers and get estimates.
I heard that I might need to pay them for just comming over and giving me an estimate. What would be the fair price for just asking for a quote ?

Be sure you understand the process (i.e. are they able to bore under the driveway or will they be breaking it up and then you have to pay someone else to repair your driveway) and that they are bidding on the same job.

If they are asking for a consulting price, you may be doing something wrong in how you're talking to them that makes them think you're not serious. Just ask for a bid, clarify any question when they are on-site, and respect their time.

 

[Javiles]

Not sure about your area but when we charge for an estimate in writing its usually a one hour service charge $85.00 which gets credited if we do the work.