Yeah, 30 days is pretty standard, but lately it feels more like "30 minutes or your money back," haha. I've seen lumber prices swing so fast you'd think they're trading stocks instead of 2x4s. Getting a detailed breakdown is definitely the way to go—at least then you know exactly what's causing the headache. Still sucks, but transparency makes it sting a little less.
I get the frustration with lumber prices—been there myself—but honestly, maybe the issue isn't just how long we honor quotes, but what we're quoting in the first place. A few years back, I switched to green roofing materials for a project, and the price stability was night and day compared to traditional lumber. Sure, upfront costs were a bit higher, but I wasn't biting my nails every time I refreshed the supplier's website.
I remember one job where we quoted a green roof system, and the client took nearly two months to decide. When they finally gave the green light, the price hadn't budged. Felt like a minor miracle after years of chasing lumber prices around like a cat after a laser pointer. Transparency is great, but maybe it's worth looking into materials that don't swing wildly in the first place. Just my two cents...
As a first-time homeowner, I'm a bit skeptical about jumping straight into green materials—mostly due to upfront costs—but your point about price stability makes sense. Maybe I'll price out both options next time and see how they stack up long-term...
When I bought my first place, I was in the same boat—green materials sounded great, but the upfront cost made me hesitate. Ended up going traditional initially, but a few years later when I had to replace some siding, I gave eco-friendly options another look. Surprisingly, the price gap had narrowed quite a bit. Plus, with energy savings and less maintenance hassle, it started to make sense financially over time.
One thing I've noticed inspecting homes is that material costs fluctuate like crazy, especially lately. Quotes that seemed high last year might look pretty good now. So yeah, pricing out both options next time sounds smart. Just keep an eye on how long those quotes are good for—some suppliers only honor them for 30 days or so, and others might stretch it longer if you ask nicely...
Good point about quotes expiring quickly—I've been burned by that before. Have you checked if suppliers offer any flexibility if you're upfront about your timeline? When I switched to green roofing, the initial quote was steep, but after chatting with the rep, they agreed to lock it in a bit longer. Definitely worth asking...and you're right, prices are all over the place lately.
