- Yeah, that's what I'm nervous about...first-time homeowner here, no clue how insurance adjusters really work.
- Had some shingles fly off last storm but nothing major yet—knock on wood.
- How do you even know if repairs are quoted fairly? Do you usually get multiple contractors to look at it, or just trust the first estimate?
- I mean, seems easy to get overcharged if you're not careful. Curious how others handle this...
"How do you even know if repairs are quoted fairly?"
Honestly, I never trust the first estimate... learned that the hard way. Usually get at least two or three quotes, then compare. Saved me from paying double once—no joke. Better safe than sorry, right?
I get the logic behind shopping around, but honestly, after a big storm, good luck getting multiple quotes quickly. Last time we had major damage, every contractor in town was booked solid for weeks. I ended up just going with the first guy who showed up because waiting around meant risking more water damage or mold issues. Sure, maybe I paid a bit extra, but sometimes convenience and speed are worth the premium. Plus, if you build a decent relationship with a local handyman or contractor beforehand, you can usually trust they're not gonna rip you off too badly. At least that's been my experience so far... knock on wood.
That's a fair point about convenience, especially with mold and water damage—waiting around can definitely make things worse. But I'm curious, has anyone had luck negotiating prices afterward, once the initial emergency is handled? Like, if you had to jump on the first available contractor, were they open to adjusting costs later on, or was it pretty much set in stone once they started working?
"Like, if you had to jump on the first available contractor, were they open to adjusting costs later on, or was it pretty much set in stone once they started working?"
- Usually set in stone once they're already working—at least from my experience.
- Contractors know you're stuck once they've started, so not much wiggle room afterward.
- Best bet is negotiating upfront or getting multiple quick quotes (if possible).
- Learned this the hard way after a storm trashed my roof... wallet still recovering, lol.
