Time Lost To Estimating

[jmellc]

Years ago I managed a small store in a shopping mall. The owner was the most notorious tightwad I had ever known up to that time. He was forever thinking of ideas we needed to do and having me call in contractors & vendors for prices. Very rarely did he allow me to go ahead with anything; it was all too expensive. Eventually, none of them would come back to do any more prices & few others would come out even once. The grapevine was/is pretty strong around here. Word got around.

 

[Ponchik]

Depending on the size of the project, I always give them a ball park price. If it is within their budget then I charge a very small consultation fee to write up an estimate. If they agree with the consultation fee to me that means they are serious buyers.