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Message
How long is too long to wait for a contractor to give an estimate?
Posted on 2/19/18 at 1:25 pm
Posted on 2/19/18 at 1:25 pm
I need a fence built in my yard and although I can do it myself, I'd rather not. A week ago today I had a guy come out to measure. He said he'd email the estimate to me. By Valentines day I still didn't receive the estimate. I texted him and he said he was still working on it and that I'd have it soon.
By Thursday I still didn't have it so I called another fence contractor to give me an estimate. He came out on Friday and did his thing and told me he'd email me an estimate by the end of the weekend.
Here it is, Monday afternoon, and I still have no fricking clue how much this project will cost me. Neither contractor has sent me their estimate yet. Am I being unreasonable to expect them to be able to give me an estimate within 24 hours? Seems they should know what the materials should cost, they know how much they charge per foot - why can't they just work it up and let me know? Is this common procedure for it to take this long?
Here I am, WILLING to pay someone an outrageous amount of money to do something that I could but don't want to do, and they're dragging arse in letting me know how much they want me to pay them. I'm about to just tell them to frick off and do it myself.
What would the OT do in this situation?
By Thursday I still didn't have it so I called another fence contractor to give me an estimate. He came out on Friday and did his thing and told me he'd email me an estimate by the end of the weekend.
Here it is, Monday afternoon, and I still have no fricking clue how much this project will cost me. Neither contractor has sent me their estimate yet. Am I being unreasonable to expect them to be able to give me an estimate within 24 hours? Seems they should know what the materials should cost, they know how much they charge per foot - why can't they just work it up and let me know? Is this common procedure for it to take this long?
Here I am, WILLING to pay someone an outrageous amount of money to do something that I could but don't want to do, and they're dragging arse in letting me know how much they want me to pay them. I'm about to just tell them to frick off and do it myself.
What would the OT do in this situation?
24
Posted on 2/19/18 at 1:26 pm to TDsngumbo
quote:
How long is too long to wait for a contractor to give an estimate?
30 minutes. Its a fence not a damn house.
Posted on 2/19/18 at 1:28 pm to CoachChappy
quote:
30 minutes. Its a fence not a damn house.
Thank you! It's not rocket science.
Posted on 2/19/18 at 1:30 pm to TDsngumbo
Keep searching for alternative contractors that value your business.
Fence quote is literally linear ft x X per ft plus gates etc of what be needed. Literally nothing difficult.
Fence quote is literally linear ft x X per ft plus gates etc of what be needed. Literally nothing difficult.
Posted on 2/19/18 at 1:30 pm to TDsngumbo
This was 3 or 4 years ago, but I had a fence put in and the guy came out one later afternoon and called me the next day with the estimate.. Of course it wasn't that big of a job, but I wouldn't wait on him. If you have to call someone because you are waiting on their estimate, do you want them doing the job?
Posted on 2/19/18 at 1:31 pm to OweO
quote:
If you have to call someone because you are waiting on their estimate, do you want them doing the job?
Good point.
ETA: I just realized who you are. I hate that I've been agreeing with you more and more lately. I may need some sort of professional intervention.
This post was edited on 2/19/18 at 1:32 pm
Posted on 2/19/18 at 1:40 pm to TDsngumbo
$175 for materials + $175 for labor
Posted on 2/19/18 at 1:41 pm to TDsngumbo
My guy measured the lf made a call to his lumberyard of choice and gave me a price, took all of 25 minutes
Posted on 2/19/18 at 1:43 pm to TDsngumbo
get another quote. I call at least 3 people to give me a quote before pulling the trigger. It's a fence, so I'm sure there are several in the area that would love to be more responsive with a quote to get the job. If he's too busy to get you a quote back, how responsive do you think he'll be with scheduling and fixing any problems if any.
Posted on 2/19/18 at 1:46 pm to Jack Daniel
Going to be a shitty estimate whenever you do get it back.
Posted on 2/19/18 at 1:51 pm to TDsngumbo
as mentioned by everyone else in the thread, for a fence job, you should give them no more than a day.
I had a general contractor get back to me in 3-4 days for a job that included (after all of the flood/water damage mitigtation work was done) installing new tile over 2400 sq ft of the downstairs, installing a completely new kitchen (new cabinets, new island), installing new drywall to replace the areas that were cutout during the water damage mitigation (basically 1 foot of drywall from the floor on all walls affected by the water), paint, new baseboards, etc. This was a huge job and he got a quote done in just a few days.
I had a general contractor get back to me in 3-4 days for a job that included (after all of the flood/water damage mitigtation work was done) installing new tile over 2400 sq ft of the downstairs, installing a completely new kitchen (new cabinets, new island), installing new drywall to replace the areas that were cutout during the water damage mitigation (basically 1 foot of drywall from the floor on all walls affected by the water), paint, new baseboards, etc. This was a huge job and he got a quote done in just a few days.
Posted on 2/19/18 at 1:58 pm to TDsngumbo
quote:
What would the OT do in this situation?
I'd give them 1 courtesy reminder that you were expected the quote yesterday. When they give you a new day then miss it as well then F-them and move on. Build it yourself if you have to but don't give them the satisfaction of being late on their promise and still be awarded the work.
All this is out the window if he's a day late but then blows you away with a great price. Then F-it, give him the job...but if anyone ever asks for recommendations be sure to talk shitty about him.
Posted on 2/19/18 at 2:02 pm to TDsngumbo
quote:
TDsngumbo
I require my employees to turn all quotes in 24 hours or less.
A fence contractor "should" be able to walk out to his truck, work up a quote and have it back to you in less than a half hour. He should never have to leave your location before quoting. The moment he leaves your property he has opened the door for another company to take the job.
I worked for Master Halco for several years and also owned a fence company. Unless this is a job with security type fencing the contractor already knows his "per foot charge" for everyday wood fence jobs. I would not let either of these companies install my fence. I can't imagine how long it would take them to actually get the job done.
Posted on 2/19/18 at 2:03 pm to TDsngumbo
Unless you are wanting some elaborate decorative with many on standard features, a overnight or over a weekend is more than enough time. If you've got two guys not returning an estimate to to you, I have to wonder if there is a reason. Do you have any special details you need addressed?
Posted on 2/19/18 at 2:05 pm to TDsngumbo
20/ft for wood fence
you're welcome
you're welcome
Posted on 2/19/18 at 2:09 pm to TDsngumbo
I built a fence once. I'll make minor repairs to mine but I don't ever care to do that shite by myself again
Posted on 2/19/18 at 2:09 pm to TDsngumbo
Fencing contractors are bottom rung just above landscapers and house painters.
Keep calling until you get the response and price you want. Someone will want to earn your business.
Keep calling until you get the response and price you want. Someone will want to earn your business.
Posted on 2/19/18 at 2:09 pm to TDsngumbo
I have made several contractor threads as my house reno has progressed and every one of them sounds like this thread. How these people stay in business is beyond me. I had a fencing and gate company come out and do measurements for a new electric entry gate to the property. A fairly expensive job. They promised the estimate the very next morning. I told them it wasn't necessary to do it that fast and that a couple of days would be fine. Two weeks later, after I had decided to use someone else, they email me an estimate for a completely different job. fricking incompetent. This doesn't mention the multiple times I have had someone come out and look at the job and then never send an estimate. If you are going to spend the time to come out, either send the estimate or let me know you don't want the job before you leave. Don't promise something and then fail to deliver.
Posted on 2/19/18 at 2:12 pm to TDsngumbo
What I'm more amazed at is how many contractors or suppliers just don't return your calls. Here I am, wanting your business and weeks will go by before you respond to my message.
They're also the first to complain about how little they make on each project.
They're also the first to complain about how little they make on each project.
Posted on 2/19/18 at 2:13 pm to jbgleason
quote:
I have made several contractor threads as my house reno has progressed and every one of them sounds like this thread. How these people stay in business is beyond me
Yes! I've had lots of experiences with contractors recently and they make me want to quit my job and start up my own contracting company. All I'd have to do is talk competently, return phone calls promptly, and actually give estimates and I'd be golden. I could probably retire within 10 years. I'm sure my promptness and professionalism would go a VERY long way. The competition makes it easy.
This post was edited on 2/19/18 at 2:14 pm
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