I'm contemplating hiring a contractor for a bathroom refresh, but I'm a bit puzzled by his process. He gave me a 'quote' initially, and now wants to present a 'proposal,' which I thought was typically the other way around. Should I negotiate for a better price now, or wait until I see the official proposal? Just as a note, I'm providing the materials, so his quote only covers labor. At first, he visited for an estimate but kept calling it a quote, which seems confusing since it looked more like a rough outline without clear details. After some discussions about adjusting the project scope, he assured me everything was covered in the quote. Now he insists on coming over with a hard copy of the proposal. I'm not a fan of haggling, but considering this quote feels like a rough estimate, I'm wondering if there's room for negotiation. What are your thoughts?
3 Answers
Honestly, I would be careful with this kind of contractor. I've had a similar experience where they gave us a rough quote, then the formal proposal came back way higher than expected. We ended up putting down a deposit before realizing it was a ballpark figure instead of a solid quote. It's important to clarify your budget before you get too deep into discussions, so I recommend negotiating your max budget upfront, especially since they haven't given you clear documentation yet. Don't let them string you along!
Typically, a quote is just an initial estimate, while a proposal provides the specifics and allows for adjustments. Moving forward, if you're providing your own materials, make sure you communicate that clearly to the contractor so you both align on expectations. Since you've already adjusted the scope, it sounds reasonable to discuss costs before the formal proposal is brought in. It’ll save you both time and potential conflict later.
Thanks for clarifying that! I was under the impression that a contract should outline everything before we got to the signing stage. I'll definitely push for more details before moving on.
I think you're on the right track but don't wait too long to ask for a price adjustment. The proposal should have clear itemized costs, and it's better to handle that now rather than getting all invested and then realizing it’s out of your budget. That initial quote seems like it was meant to get the conversation started, but make sure you protect yourself by getting everything in writing. You deserve clarity!
Exactly! I’m also wary about dealing with someone who hasn’t put anything formal on paper yet. I've heard that can lead to complications later on.
I totally get what you're saying. It's frustrating to feel like you're not fully informed about costs. I just want to see a detailed breakdown before committing too.