I've been wondering why some contractors throw out ridiculously high quotes instead of simply declining the job when it's not worth their time. For example, I needed to demolish a wooden porch and rebuild it in aluminum, and the quotes I got were all over the place—$15K, $10K, and then a more reasonable $5.6K. The last contractor had previously worked on my neighbor's balcony several years ago, and it still looks great, so I know the quality would be there.
It just frustrates me that the earlier quotes were so inflated. Is it common for contractors to do this? I even faced a similar issue with a gutter replacement; two companies insisted I had to replace the entire system for $6K, but another company custom-fitted the new part for just $300!
Has anyone else dealt with this kind of pricing shenanigans? How can we navigate this better?
3 Answers
It's honestly pretty common; some contractors just want to weed out the smaller jobs or clients they feel aren't worth their time. They might be super busy or just want to avoid jobs they don’t enjoy. It's sad but real! They probably hope that someone will bite on those high numbers, and if they don't, they either move on or adjust their bids later. It's a strategy that works for them, unfortunately.
Another thing to consider is profit strategies. Sometimes they quote high prices because they know a few people will go for it, even if the job cost is lower. If they get lucky and land a few bigger jobs, they can maximize profits while managing fewer projects. It’s all about how they juggle their workload.
You’re spot on with the gutter situation! It’s frustrating when contractors push for unnecessary work. If they see a higher cost as a way to deter you, that’s a shady move. It's just frustrating as a homeowner trying to figure out what’s fair. I try to get multiple bids, but if they all come back inflated? That's where it gets tricky!