I hired a landscaper after he provided a written estimate of $5000 for a project we discussed in detail. Initially, I outlined my budget and the specific areas I wanted him to focus on. However, during the job, he expanded the work to areas we had agreed to avoid due to costs, and now he's implying that he might need more money because the job was more complicated than he anticipated. I feel pressured, but I don't want to pay more than we agreed on. How should I handle this situation?
3 Answers
Don’t let him guilt trip you. Just politely tell him that you’re capped out at your budget, and you’re sorry if the estimate was off. A deal is a deal, after all!
Stick to your budget and don’t let him pressure you into paying more. It’s not right for him to expand the project without your agreement. Remind him of the initial discussion and the written estimate you agreed on. If he seems unreasonable, you might want to look into local contractor laws.
Exactly! He should have consulted you before doing any extra work. It's all about communication.
Keep your cool and just let him know you can’t go over the $5000. It's tough, but he made a commitment, and this should serve as a lesson for him on business practices. Contracts are contracts!
Exactly! If he wants to charge more, he should have cleared it with you first. You have every right to stick to your original agreement.