"Funny story, once had a contractor charge me for disposal when they'd actually used our building's dumpster... awkward conversation followed, haha."
Haha, that's pretty bold of them. I always double-check invoices too, especially after noticing some roofers billed me for extra shingles they never used. When I pointed it out, they quickly adjusted the bill—funny how that works. Makes me wonder though, do you guys usually request itemized quotes upfront, or just deal with it afterward if something seems off? Seems like prevention might be easier than confrontation later on...
"Makes me wonder though, do you guys usually request itemized quotes upfront, or just deal with it afterward if something seems off?"
I usually insist on itemized quotes upfront—learned that lesson the hard way. Had a painter once who billed me for "premium paint," but I caught him unloading cans of the cheapest stuff from his truck. When I called him out, he shrugged and said, "paint's paint." Yeah, right... Now I always ask for specifics beforehand; saves headaches later and keeps everyone honest.
I get why you'd want itemized quotes upfront, but honestly, I usually just eyeball the total and trust my gut. Maybe I'm too laid-back, but if something feels off later, that's when I start asking questions... hasn't burned me yet, thankfully.
I totally get trusting your gut—it's saved me a few times too. But from what I've seen inspecting homes, roofing invoices can hide some sneaky extras. Had a client once who nearly paid for premium shingles they didn't even get installed. Quick glance at the invoice saved them a chunk of cash. Nothing wrong with laid-back, but a quick double-check never hurts...especially when roofs aren't exactly cheap, haha.
Good catch on that invoice—roofing can definitely get tricky. Had a similar situation at a complex I manage; contractor billed for new flashing around vents, but turns out they just reused the old stuff. It wasn't even obvious until we climbed up there for a routine inspection. Saved us a decent amount just by paying attention to details. Always helps to know exactly what's supposed to be included, then match it up line-by-line with the actual work done. A bit tedious maybe, but worth it in the long run.
