Bottom line: push for a written quote with clear terms and an expiration date that gives you time to think. If they won’t budge, there’s usually someone else who will.
I’m with you on needing a written quote, especially after getting burned by a “handshake agreement” a few years back—never again. The short quote windows are tricky, though. I get that material prices can be volatile (lumber during the pandemic was wild), but I still think seven days is pushing it for most jobs. It feels less like protecting themselves and more like trying to rush your decision.
What’s interesting is how much the quote window can vary depending on the type of work. For basic maintenance or small repairs, I’ve seen contractors offer 30-day quotes without blinking. But for anything involving HVAC or electrical upgrades, it’s often two weeks or less, citing supply chain issues. Sometimes I wonder if that’s legit or just a way to keep their schedule full.
One thing I’ve started doing is asking contractors to break down which parts of the quote are “locked in” and which could change. For example, labor rates might be fixed for 30 days, but materials could be subject to adjustment if there’s a documented price spike. Not everyone loves this approach, but the ones who do tend to be more transparent overall.
Curious if anyone’s had luck negotiating longer quote windows on bigger projects—like full roof replacements or major remodels? Does it depend more on the contractor’s size, or is it just about how busy they are? I’ve noticed the national chains are stricter about expiration dates, while local folks sometimes have more wiggle room... but maybe that’s just my area.
I get why short quote windows seem pushy, but honestly, I think it’s more about survival for a lot of contractors—especially the smaller ones. I’ve seen prices on shingles jump twice in a single month, and if you’re locked into a 30-day quote, you could end up eating hundreds in losses. On bigger jobs, I’ve had some luck getting a 14-day window, but only if I’m flexible on start dates. The national chains in my area are actually less forgiving than the local crews, which surprised me. Maybe it’s just the way things are moving now with all the supply chain drama.
The national chains in my area are actually less forgiving than the local crews, which surprised me.
That’s been my experience too, oddly enough. I figured the big guys would have more wiggle room, but nope—my last quote from a chain expired in 7 days, no exceptions. Meanwhile, the local crew I’ve used for years gave me 21 days, but warned me about “market volatility” like they were reading off a stock ticker. I get it though—my neighbor locked in a price last year and the contractor ended up losing money when lumber spiked. It’s rough out there. I guess short windows are just the new normal until things settle down... if they ever do.
- Chains love their fine print—blink and your quote’s expired.
- Local folks at least give you a heads-up before the clock runs out.
- I had a guy once tell me, “Lock it in today, or tomorrow it’s Monopoly money.” Didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
- These days, if you get more than a week, consider it a gift... or maybe just a sign they forgot to update their spreadsheet.
- Can’t blame them too much—prices have been bouncing around like squirrels on my roof.
- Totally get it—felt like I was playing musical chairs with quotes when I was shopping around.
- One place gave me 48 hours... barely enough time to check my bank account, let alone decide.
- Another guy held his price for two weeks and I thought he was a unicorn.
- Honestly, with prices jumping all over, I can’t blame them for being cautious, but man, it’s stressful.
- If you get a week, that’s basically a luxury spa day in quote terms these days.
- Hang in there—it’s not just you. The whole process is a bit of a circus right now.
