- I get the juggling act. Materials are all over the place lately.
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Same here—sometimes I’ve had to just bite the bullet if something spikes overnight.“I try to give at least three days on a quote, but even then, I’ve had to eat the difference once or twice.”
- Curious—do you put an expiration date right on your quotes? I usually do 48 hours, but sometimes it feels too short if clients drag their feet.
- Anyone had pushback from customers about short windows, or do most folks understand the volatility?
- I always look for the expiration on a quote—48 hours seems fair these days, but yeah, it can be tight if you’re trying to coordinate with family.
- Had to scramble once when prices jumped overnight and the contractor couldn’t hold the old rate. Not fun, but I get it… materials are wild lately.
- For me, shorter window’s better than getting hit with a surprise bill later. Still stings, though.
Yeah, 48 hours is pretty normal now, especially with how fast shingle prices can jump. I’ve seen quotes change overnight—one day you’re good, next day it’s a couple hundred more. It can be rough for folks trying to get everyone on board, but honestly, shorter windows save a lot of headaches when stuff gets expensive outta nowhere. I’d rather lock in what I can than argue about it later.
I get why folks are leaning toward those 48-hour quotes, but honestly, I think it’s a bit too tight for most homeowners. Not everyone can make a decision that fast, especially if you’ve got to check with family or line up financing. Yeah, shingle prices are all over the place lately—last summer I had a supplier bump costs twice in one week—but I still try to give people at least five business days on a quote.
It’s not perfect, and sometimes I eat a little extra cost if prices jump, but I’d rather build some trust than rush someone into signing. If you’re worried about wild price swings, maybe just add a clause that says the quote is good for X days unless material costs spike more than, say, 10%. That way you’re covered if things go nuts, but you’re not putting folks on the spot either.
I know some contractors are all about protecting their margins (and hey, we all gotta eat), but there’s something to be said for giving people a little breathing room. Just my two cents...
- Five days sounds way more reasonable than 48 hours. I mean, I can barely get my family to agree on pizza toppings in two days, let alone a new roof.
- Totally get the price swings—my neighbor tried to lock in a quote last year and by the time he got his loan sorted, the price had jumped. He was not thrilled.
- That clause idea is smart. Gives everyone a little wiggle room if things go wild but doesn’t make you feel like you’re signing your life away on the spot.
- Honestly, I’d rather work with someone who’s willing to eat a bit of cost for trust than someone who’s all “sign now or else.” Feels less like buying a used car, you know?
- At the end of the day, yeah, contractors gotta make a living, but homeowners need to sleep at night too… preferably under a roof that didn’t cost double because we blinked and missed the deadline.
Appreciate seeing someone put people over panic. Makes me feel less crazy for needing a minute to think before dropping thousands.
