Now I just say up front, “This price holds for two weeks, then we’ll have to recheck.”
That’s pretty much what I’ve landed on too. I used to give 30-day quotes, but with materials jumping all over the place, it just doesn’t make sense anymore. Had a painter last winter try to hold me to a quote from three months earlier—how do people not realize prices change? Are folks actually locking in longer anywhere, or is two weeks the new normal?
Two weeks seems to be the sweet spot lately, at least around here. I’ve had a couple contractors say they’ll only hold prices for 10 days, which felt a bit short, but I get it with how fast things change. Last year, I tried to lock in a flooring quote for almost a month and the guy just laughed—said his supplier had already bumped prices twice that week.
I do miss when you could count on a 30-day window, but honestly, I’d rather have someone be upfront about it than get surprised by an increase halfway through. It’s not just materials either—labor costs seem to be creeping up too. If I’m getting work done now, I just ask how long the quote is good for and try to make decisions quick. Not ideal, but better than getting caught off guard.
Curious if anyone’s still seeing longer holds in smaller towns or if this is just the new normal everywhere...
I do miss when you could count on a 30-day window, but honestly, I’d rather have someone be upfront about it than get surprised by an increase halfway through.
That’s been my experience too, especially after big storms roll through and demand spikes. Around here, 10-14 days is about all anyone will commit to, even for simple repairs. The volatility in materials is just wild lately. Out of curiosity, has anyone seen suppliers or contractors offer price locks if you put down a deposit? I’ve heard mixed things—some say it helps, others claim it barely makes a difference with how fast prices can jump.
Price locks with a deposit are kind of hit or miss in my experience. Sometimes it works out, especially if the supplier has a big enough inventory on hand, but I’ve also had contractors come back and say their costs jumped so much they can’t honor the original quote, even with a deposit. Around here, most folks are only willing to guarantee a price for a week or two, tops. It’s frustrating, but I get it—materials are all over the place lately. I usually ask for everything in writing and try to move fast once I get a quote I’m happy with.
I’ve seen quotes change overnight, especially when lumber prices went wild last year. Even with a deposit, I had a client’s contractor try to bump the price up mid-project—awkward conversation, to say the least. I get that suppliers can’t predict the market, but if you’re putting money down, shouldn’t that count for something? Maybe a short window is fair, but a week feels tight. I’d love to see at least 30 days, but maybe I’m dreaming...
