I agree. You wouldn't believe how many times I went out to give a free estimate spending an hour with the potential customer and another hour to and from traveling just to find out that they are just shopping for the lowest estimate.
2 hours wasted that I could have been working.
With the price of diesel fuel being over $5 a gallon,, I now charge $50 for an estimate and if I get the job, that will go towards the invoice. If I don't, at least it covers the fuel cost and if they don't want the estimate, then I have not lost my time and fuel.
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