After a loss on a sprung seat job, I'm rethinking my quote system

I used to give fast quotes to get clients quickly. But last week, I missed rotten frame wood because I didn't check deep enough. Some folks say full inspections eat up too much time, while others think they save money by avoiding surprise fixes. I'm stuck between keeping jobs moving and protecting my profit. How do you handle this balance?

3 comments

3 Comments

iris1151mo ago

Relying on moisture meters alone is shortsighted. They don't show the full extent of rot in frames. I set aside time for a thorough check on every job, and it stops surprise repairs. My quotes now include this check as a fixed cost, so no one is caught off guard.

murray.andrew1mo ago

Have you tried a quick spot check for hidden rot before giving numbers? A moisture meter can find bad wood in minutes without deep digging. This lets you warn clients about possible extra costs early on. You skip long inspections but still catch the big stuff. It keeps your quotes fast but safe from nasty surprises.

the_tara1mo ago

Just wait until your moisture meter beeps and you poke the siding only to watch a whole section turn into wet mulch. Then the quote writes itself, plus a new line item for customer therapy.