I’ve been in your shoes and it’s honestly maddening watching the quote window tick down while insurance drags things out. In my case, the contractor ended up re-quoting at a higher price, but he did break down what changed—mostly material costs. I appreciated the transparency, even if it stung a bit. I haven’t seen anyone actually honor an old quote unless it was just a week or two past expiration… seems rare these days with prices all over the place.
I get what you’re saying, but I’ve actually seen a couple of companies stick to their quotes for longer—like 30 days or even more—if you’re upfront about insurance delays. Not common, but it happens if you ask. Guess it depends on the contractor’s situation and how wild material prices are at the time.
Guess it depends on the contractor’s situation and how wild material prices are at the time.
- Seen that too—sometimes a contractor will hold a quote for 30 days, but I’ve also had a few only give me a week, especially when lumber was jumping every other day.
- Insurance delays definitely complicate things. Had a client last year whose claim dragged out for almost two months. The roofer honored the original quote, but only because he’d stocked up on shingles ahead of time. Not sure that’s typical though.
- I always tell folks to get any price guarantee in writing, just in case. Verbal promises can get fuzzy if prices spike.
- Curious—has anyone had a contractor actually *raise* the price after giving a written quote? Or do most stick to their word even if it takes a while to get started?
I’ve actually seen a couple of contractors try to bump up the price even after a written quote—usually blaming “unforeseen” material hikes or supply chain issues. Not super common, but it does happen. That’s why I always recommend looking for a clause in the contract about price adjustments. If it’s not there, I’d push for a fixed price, especially when insurance drags things out. Otherwise, you can get caught in the middle if prices go nuts mid-project.
We usually honor quotes for 30 days, but honestly, if material costs go wild (which has happened a lot lately), it gets tricky. If the contract doesn’t mention price changes, I’d expect the number to stick. Always double-check those clauses... they save headaches.