What "free estimate" actually means when I say it
What happens on the visit
You show me the problem. I look at it — properly, not from the doorway. If it's a leak I want to see where the water's going. If it's a wall I'm going to press on it. Then I tell you what I think is wrong, what it needs, and roughly how long it'll take.
What gets written down
The job, in plain words. The price for that job. Anything I'm not sure about until I open it up, marked as such, with what it would add if it's the bad case. You get a copy. Nothing starts until you've said yes to what's on the paper.
What it doesn't mean
It doesn't mean I'll price the job over the phone without seeing it. Small things, sometimes — a disposal swap, a fan install. Anything involving water, wiring, or something behind a wall, no. Guessing on the phone is how people end up surprised, and I'd rather drive out.
Why free
Because the visit is how I find out if I'm the right person for the job. If it's something I don't do, or something that needs a licensed trade on its own, I'll say so and you've lost nothing but half an hour.
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