Does anyone charge a fee for going out to measure up for a job ?

[Mark B]

I don't charge for quotes for either plumbing or tiling work.

If its a plumbing repair job that hasn't been quoted I do have a higher hourly rate for the first hour but no call out charge.

Mark

 

[Spud]

i always offer free estimates, if the job is miles away or if they ask me back around again as they have changed something or want samples dropped off i charge a higher fixing price and put a couple of quid on the materials ,the customer still feels like you have given them a freebie but they pay for it in the end with the price of diesel these days its not unreasonable to ask for a fee if the job is well outside your catchment area

 

[Varley]

Never even dreamt of it.

 

[Mike Strutter]

No way, free estimates from me. If it's a long way from home i'll reflect that in my quote, i think that's only fair with the rising fuel costs.

 

[Fred]

As soon as they say insurancejob the phone goes down, waste of petrol.

 

[LM Ceramics]

on my card it always says free estimates but with the fuel costs now and sometimes i called to give quotes out of my area i have thought about it but i just do the same add it on the final bill and hope i get the job

 

[andy-p]

no, i dont charge for quotations...

i do charge for insurance quotes!!! £20 for a typed quote.. and i reduce the call out fee if i get the job..reason being is, it cuts out the r's holes who are after a quote to claim on there insurance..if there genuine, then there usually ok

same as ed.. been caught out in the early days with insurance quotes, now i charge £40 , refundable after the job is done , most times you never hear from them again... :yes:

 

[bobbin]

no, i dont charge for quotations...

i do charge for insurance quotes!!! £20 for a typed quote.. and i reduce the call out fee if i get the job..reason being is, it cuts out the r's holes who are after a quote to claim on there insurance..if there genuine, then there usually ok

Same as mate, £25 for insurance quotes for that very same reason, I'm not wasting my time for them to simply pocket the cash and do nothing with it :mad2:
If they go ahead, it comes out of the cost of the job, this applies to both my tiling and decorating.

 

[Fekin]

Thanks for the replies people.

Seems strange that she had two tilers saying they charged for coming out to look at the job.

I gave her a low price but not heard anything back from it yet, good job it was only 45 seconds drive from me

 

[Pawelzik]

I do but they get it refunded if they engage me to do the job...Kev

Approx. 90% german tilers do free estimates, 10% go ahead like Kev says and it depends on the distance as Sir Ramic says.
And for those who do free estimates it should be a matter of politeness to get minimum a call by the customer if he gives the job to another tiler.:8:

 

[Brindle]

I haven't yet, don't plan on doing and I live in a pretty rural area so can travel anything up to 30 miles and more to price up.

 

[enduro]

You could charge and then say that if they accept your price you will knock it off, but make sure you have added it on to price so you dont lose out.

 

[LM Ceramics]

i agree with pawelzik i dont charge for estimates but i believe just out of politeness it would be nice for the client to tell you thanks but no thanks lucky if i do any quotes i dont get i 90% get a call saying we have chosen someone else

 

[Dumbo]

Plumber i knew used to charge for doing estimates then said to customer he would knock it off the job if he got it. Cheeky bugger! lol. Never done it myself but agree with charging for insurance quotes most people are using you for their own gains.

ted

 

[TilingLogistics]

I have to charge with what I do or I would spend every day running around the Country looking at floors. So I charge everyone and then refund it off the cost of the job if I get engaged to do it. I also explain my service over the phone so there are no shocks for anyone when they get my bill. Most jobs I do are at least 1 hour plus and then I usually spend around 4 hours carrying out tests to establish what is required to deal with the problems. In essence every quote for me is at least a days work

Kev