So, I've got this contractor who came by once and gave me a rough estimate for some home improvement work. We're planning to upgrade our siding and windows, but I'm still deciding on the siding material – right now, he just quoted me for vinyl. Now that I'm leaning toward a more expensive material, he wants a deposit to give me a new price and finalize the plans. Honestly, I thought the process was supposed to go: get a quote, agree on it, and then put down a deposit when you're ready to start. So, I'm left wondering if this practice of requiring a deposit before everything's finalized is standard or if it's a red flag. It feels a bit open-ended to me, and the details aren't all locked in yet. What do you all think?
3 Answers
I totally get your concern! Normally, deposits come after you’ve agreed on a price. If he’s asking for money just to give a new estimate, that’s definitely something to think about. Maybe suggest that the deposit goes toward the total cost of the project if you go ahead with it?
Yeah, so here’s the deal: many contractors will give you one free estimate, but after that, they might want to charge for detailed quotes, which can be applied towards the project if you hire them. Still, make sure you’re okay with that before you pay anything.
It sounds to me like the contractor might be trying to protect his time. If he’s going to spend more time designing or consulting with you, he wants to make sure you’re committed first. It’s definitely a bit unusual to ask for a deposit before giving a final quote though. I’d recommend pushing back and asking for a bid before you hand over any cash.
Right? A bid should be free. If he pushes back, it might be time to get quotes from other contractors.
Isn’t that what deposits are usually for anyway? Just to be safe in case his quote isn’t competitive.