I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve been burned by letting quotes slide too much. Had an HVAC guy last winter who kept “adjusting” his numbers—by the end, the price was up 30%. Sometimes, locking in a quote upfront saves a lot of headaches later.
Sometimes, locking in a quote upfront saves a lot of headaches later.
I get that, but what if material prices jump before the work starts? Had a plumber try to bump up his price last spring because copper shot up. Are you expecting folks to eat those costs, or do you allow some wiggle room?
- Totally agree, locking in a quote can save a lot of hassle, but it’s not always black and white.
- In green roofing, I’ve seen material prices (like membrane or insulation) swing pretty wildly, especially after storms or supply chain hiccups.
- Some contracts I’ve signed had a “material escalation clause”—basically, if prices spike by a certain percentage, both sides revisit the quote. It’s fair, but you’ve got to read the fine print.
- I’d rather have some transparency than get a surprise bill halfway through. Fixed quotes are great, but if the market goes nuts... I get why some folks need to adjust.
- Last year, a supplier tried to tack on an extra 18% for recycled steel panels. Not fun. We split the difference after a bit of back and forth. Flexibility helps, but clear terms up front matter more.
Some contracts I’ve signed had a “material escalation clause”—basically, if prices spike by a certain percentage, both sides revisit the quote.
Yeah, those escalation clauses are a lifesaver when stuff goes sideways. I’ve noticed insulation prices especially can jump overnight. Fixed quotes are nice, but honestly, I’d rather have a little wiggle room than get stuck eating the cost if things go haywire. Still, nothing beats having it all spelled out before you start.
I hear you on wanting things spelled out up front. We had a siding job quoted last year and by the time we got around to signing, prices had jumped like 15%. The contractor was upfront about it, said his supplier costs shot up, and honestly, I couldn’t blame him. It stings in the moment but I’d rather have that conversation than end up with shoddy work or a contractor cutting corners just to stay within an old quote.
Those escalation clauses make sense these days, especially with how unpredictable material costs are. I used to think locking in a fixed price was always better, but after seeing how fast stuff like lumber and insulation can go up (or down), I’m more open to a little flexibility. Makes me feel like both sides are protected if things go sideways.
I do get why some folks want quotes honored for longer though. Not everyone has wiggle room in their budget or time to keep chasing new numbers. But for bigger projects, especially with long lead times, it feels fair to have something in writing that lets you revisit the numbers if things change drastically.
Honestly, as long as everyone’s clear on what happens if prices spike—like having that clause in there—I’d rather deal with a little uncertainty than end up fighting over surprise costs halfway through. Learned that one the hard way when we did our basement reno...contractor tried to eat the extra cost but it just made everyone grumpy.
You’re not alone being cautious about this stuff. It’s just how things are these days—better to hash it out before anyone swings a hammer.
