I usually stick to around 30 days too, but I've had homeowners appreciate when I mention upfront that storm season can get unpredictable. Had a job last spring where hail damage spiked demand overnight—luckily, the homeowner was understanding since we'd already chatted about it. Transparency definitely helps smooth things over...
As someone who just went through my first storm season as a homeowner, I can't tell you enough how much transparency helps. My roofer warned me upfront about potential delays if things got crazy, and sure enough, they did. Knowing ahead of time made it way less stressful when the schedule shifted around. I'd say 30 days is fair, but leaving room for flexibility seems smart—storms don't exactly check calendars before they roll in...
Yeah, 30 days sounds reasonable, but honestly, with how unpredictable things get during storm season, I usually tell folks to expect some wiggle room. Better to be upfront about it than deal with headaches later... transparency saves everyone stress.
30 days is definitely a solid baseline, but I gotta say, lately with the way materials have been jumping around in price—especially shingles and plywood—it can get tricky fast. Last month we quoted a job, and literally two weeks later our supplier bumped prices by nearly 15%. Talk about awkward phone calls... "Hey, remember that quote we gave you? Yeah, about that..."
Transparency's definitely key though; people appreciate honesty even if it's not exactly what they wanna hear. I've found most homeowners are pretty understanding once you explain the situation clearly and upfront. Better than surprising them with an unexpected cost hike halfway through the project.
But here's something I've been thinking about: aside from storm season craziness, how do you guys handle quotes when there's a known shortage or supply chain issue coming up? Like when manufacturers start sending notices about delays or limited availability—do you shorten your quote validity period, or just add some kind of disclaimer to cover yourselves? Curious how everyone else navigates that minefield...
Honestly, as a homeowner who's been on the receiving end of those "awkward calls," I'd push back a bit on the 30-day standard. With how volatile things are lately, shorter validity windows seem fairer to everyone involved. I'd rather see quotes valid for something like 10-14 days, clearly communicated upfront, than get blindsided later. Feels more realistic given the current market... transparency isn't just about honesty, it's also about setting realistic expectations from the jump.
