When is it okay to ask for a free estimate?

Free unless I have to travel a long way from home, then we have them submit photos to ensure the job is in the scope of what we do. If it looks like we can come to terms using this method we will go quite a distance for the final estimate and project review.

Most contractors are happy to provide a free estimate if the customer is serious about their project. The worst thing for a contractor is wasting time and money on people who never intend to perform a project. If you want to get advice, it is respectful to contact the contractor and discuss your needs first. Once you feel you are ready to move forward, contractors will always need to look at the project site location to plan for the project.

As a Professional is our standard to offer Free estimates. As a client We recomend to always ask first for free estimate to open the posibility for the contrator.

Thats is how you start the conversation, if is in the table or not then both proceed to next step.

it is not pleasant that after talking 15-20 minutes of your needs and setting and appointment to know that the client wants it free.

So we just decided always give free estimates and in home measurements, then let client decide when to start the project.

I offer all my clients free estimates.

Of course you can ask for a free estimate. We provide estiamtes free of charge, even if we’re travelling a long way. Considering that we usually work only in one county, this helps a lot in controlling our gas consumption, so that we don’t have to charge you a penny.

Anytime you are considering a home remodel that way you know how much cost your getting into.

I always provide free estimates, when would I charge for an estimate? Well if the reason for the estimate is not conductive to an actual construction job. Then a fee for the time spent is in order. You should also consider who is asking and if the possible later recommendations are worth more than the good PR you will obtain by not charging…

Estimates in this business should always be free, we do not charge for estimates unless, the customer lives a good distance away from our main area of work.

It depends on how far you live.

Everyone we consider working with will get a free estimate. The danger is that estimates are not worth much without plans or specifications of products. I like to use the grocery cart parallel. If you are shopping at the grocery store and grab a cart to prepare to fill it up, is it fair to ask the grocery clerk how much money it will cost to fill it full of groceries? The clerk is going to laugh at you and rightfully so. The best way to determine an estimate is to hire a designer or contractor to shop first. Either that or you go out and find what you like.

The estimate is always just that, an ESTIMATE. When a project is done I have seen my clients double or triple their original estimate because once they see what is available to them they can make choices based on what they value most. It’s really not rocket science. Just plain common sense when shopping.

Hope this helps you.

We always give free estimates to our customers. I feel it is definitely worth giving a free estimate. So many contractors are going this route and I don’t feel you lose anything. I see that the more estimates you provide, the more work you actually receive. We do a lot of bathroom, kitchen and basement remodels so normally even if we get 1 job out of 10, which is highly unlikely because I feel everyone should be at least getting close to half of the jobs they are going out to see. The 2 jobs that anyone gets out of the 10 should bring back so much more to the company then the few rides we take…

It is always ok to ask for a free estimate. The worse that could occur is the contractor advising that this is not possible.

We are located in the San Francisco Bay area and always provide Free Estimates for residental or commercial property owners regardless of the size of the project.

We have been in the business a long time and also spend considerable time creating comprehensive quotes that are sent through a bidding process with various governmental agencies in the area. These are also free estimates and is part of doing contractor work.

We hope this answers the question for you.

Dickens Thomas Construction

It is a part of being in this line of work. To educate and help the customer understand some of the details and scope of your work.

I believe it is your right to ask for a free estamate, I could never charge a customer for an estamate, however a customer should know that it takes many hours plus drive time to compleate an estamate. Most contractors will take the add the time of the estamate into the job if that job was won by the contractor, to minimize the addeedcost of the inctial estamate.

It is always ok to ask. Having been a licensed GC for over 30 years I have always given a free initial consultation and usually a free written estimate, but without doing the spec work in detail. Exceptions are writing a detailed insurance bid or estimate to a bank for the purpose of the customer obtaining money with no desire to hire me, and on my time. Time is money in this business, and I do realize people want to get competitive bids, and thats ok. One way I solved the problem of not giving written insurance bids and long labor intensive written “spec sheets” to shop by is to charge for my time to prepair a insurance bid, or mortage loan estimate or for any drawings, etc. and to deduct the cost from the project total if I recieve the job. Most people understand and I have never encountered anyone being upset about doing it this way.

Any legit business should provide estimates free of charge. We have never charged for it and never will. Estimates are part of sales when running a company.

Free estimates should always be provided; at least in the home cleaning services field. I cannot speak for other trades.

We are always willing to provide a free estimate! We will provide an honest and upfront recommendation to suit your construction needs!

Any time is a good time for an estimate. And of course, it’s always free. Just give us a call and we’ll get you on the schedule.