Had a similar situation last year—locked in a deposit thinking it’d cover everything, but when lumber prices spiked, the contractor passed the increase on anyway. It felt like the deposit just made things more complicated without much real benefit. I’d rather have clear terms upfront.
I hear you—price swings have made things tricky for everyone lately. I’ve had clients upset when quotes changed, but honestly, I think it’s fair to honor a quote for 30 days, max. After that, materials can jump overnight and we’re stuck either eating the cost or passing it on. It’s not ideal, but being upfront about that risk seems to work better than pretending prices are set in stone.
Yeah, 30 days seems fair to me too. I tried getting a fence quote last year and by the time I got around to pulling the trigger, lumber prices had jumped. The contractor was upfront about it, which I appreciated—even if it stung my wallet a bit. Stuff changes fast lately.
The contractor was upfront about it, which I appreciated—even if it stung my wallet a bit.
That’s been my experience too—transparency goes a long way, even if the price isn’t what you hoped. Curious, did your quote specify materials or just a flat rate? I’ve noticed some contractors break it down line by line, others don’t. Makes tracking price changes tricky.
I’ve run into both types—some contractors give you a detailed breakdown, others just toss out a lump sum. Personally, I prefer seeing the line items, especially for bigger jobs. Once, I had a guy quote me for a deck, and when lumber prices shot up mid-project, he showed me exactly where the costs changed. It stung, but at least I knew why. Ever had someone try to sneak in extra charges without explaining? That’s the worst.