That makes me wonder—do most contractors have a standard time frame for quotes, or is it just kind of whatever works? When we bought our place last year, I remember getting wildly different quote expirations for stuff like windows and gutters. One guy said 30 days, another said “until my supplier calls me.” Honestly, as a customer, I’d rather have the shorter window than get hit with a surprise bill later. But man, it’s stressful trying to make decisions that fast, especially when you’re new to all this. Anyone else find that part tricky?
I run into this all the time—quotes are all over the place. Some contractors stick to 30 days, others just shrug and say “depends on my supplier.” Honestly, I get why they do it with prices jumping around, but it’s a headache for us trying to budget. I’d rather have a clear expiration date, even if it’s short, than some vague “whenever” that could change overnight. Ever had someone try to up the price after you already signed? That’s the worst.
Had a similar thing happen last year when I was getting quotes for new windows. One guy gave me a price that was “good until the end of the week,” which felt a bit rushed, but at least I knew where I stood. Another just said, “Prices change all the time, let me know when you’re ready.” Super frustrating trying to plan around that. I totally get wanting a clear expiration date—even if it’s just 10 days—because then you can actually make decisions. Once had someone try to tack on an extra $500 after we’d already agreed... not cool at all. You’re definitely not alone in this mess.
That “prices change all the time” line always bugs me. I get that materials can fluctuate, but it feels like a cop-out when there’s no clear window. When I had my roof quoted last spring, the contractor gave me 14 days to decide—said after that, he’d have to check material costs again. That felt fair. Once, though, I had someone try to up the price after we shook on it... ended up walking away. If you’re planning a big project, having a set expiration date on a quote just makes sense. Otherwise, how do you even budget?
I hear you—nothing like trying to budget for a big project and suddenly the price jumps because “lumber went up overnight.” I get that stuff changes, but if I’m getting a quote, I want to know how long it’s good for. That 14-day window seems fair. Had a guy once try to bump the price after we’d already agreed... nope, not playing that game. If they can’t give you a clear expiration, feels like they’re just fishing for more money.