I’ve had this happen with a deck build—price jumped $800 in two weeks. I started asking for written quotes with a “valid until” date, but even then, some contractors won’t budge if their costs go up. Has anyone actually had luck getting a price locked in with just a deposit, or do most folks end up renegotiating anyway?
I’ve run into this too—
What’s worked for me is getting everything in writing, including a clear “price locked with deposit” clause. But sometimes they’ll still try to renegotiate if lumber prices spike. Has anyone had a contractor actually stick to the original quote, even if their costs went up? Or is it just wishful thinking to expect that?“even then, some contractors won’t budge if their costs go up.”
Had a similar situation last year when I remodeled my kitchen. Even though we had a
clause, the contractor came back asking for more after drywall prices jumped. I pushed back, and to their credit, they honored the original quote—though I could tell they weren’t thrilled. I think it really depends on the contractor’s integrity and how airtight your contract is. Some folks just eat the cost, others try to pass it on. It’s a bit of a gamble, honestly.“price locked with deposit”
I’ve run into this a few times managing multi-unit remodels. Even with a “locked” quote, if the contract language isn’t crystal clear about what’s included (and what counts as a legitimate price change), you’re kind of at the mercy of market swings. Once, a contractor tried to tack on extra for lumber after the fact. I pointed to the contract and they backed off, but it definitely strained the relationship. Honestly, I now add a clause specifying exactly how long the quote is valid and under what circumstances, if any, it can be adjusted. Not foolproof, but it helps keep everyone on the same page.
Honestly, I now add a clause specifying exactly how long the quote is valid and under what circumstances, if any, it can be adjusted. Not foolproof, but it helps keep everyone on the same page.
I’ve had similar headaches, especially during that wild lumber price spike a couple years back. The “locked” quote is only as good as the fine print, honestly. I’ve started using a 30-day validity window for most quotes, unless we’re talking about something with really volatile materials—then I’ll sometimes go as short as 14 days. The key thing I’ve found is spelling out what counts as a legitimate adjustment (like a documented supplier price jump over X%) versus what’s just poor planning.
Do you ever run into pushback from contractors when you try to set those terms? I’ve had a few balk at strict language, but most seem to appreciate knowing where the lines are. Curious if you’ve found a sweet spot for balancing fairness and predictability.
