In the initial meeting with the homeowner or prospected home buyer I try and understand the main objectives, customer vision of what the client is looking for will look like, their desires and their budget. In this way I can often times give the client a rough idea of the cost on the spot. I always follow up with a fully written out Ball Park proposal for the customer. This allows me, and the potential customer, to see whether we’re talking the same language when it comes to the budget of the project.

This Ball Park estimate is free of charge to existing Homeowners. A charge of $100.00 is made to prospected Home Buyers. This is then credited back to the work being done on the home once the sale is complete.

A Ball Park estimate is scheduled either by calling my office, filling out my on-line response form or sending an e-mail. Estimates are usually scheduled during the week, Monday to Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Depending on the customers schedule I can sometimes accommodate times either later or earlier in the day as well as fit in a Saturday morning estimate if needed.

Depending on how much research and calls are needed to get the information needed, most estimates get an average turnaround in about 3-4 working days.

I typically mail my Ball Park estimates, but will either e-mail as an attachment or fax them as requested by the customer. In either case I still mail out a copy of the Ball Park to the customer to ensure they get it.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

Good question! I include with the Ball Park a simple "Start-Up Proposal". This proposal requests a retainer payment of 1% of the project or $500.00 minimum (whichever is greater. Example: a $60,000.00 Ball Park would be a $600.00 retainer) for a fully detailed estimate to be drawn up for the project. The retainer is applied to the cost of the final job, but is not refundable should the job not go through or the customer goes elsewhere for the work. We then prepare a detailed written estimate for projects that we feel the client is seriously considering. In doing this estimate, calls and appointments are made to sub-contractors, material supply stores are contacted for prices and permit costs (if needed) are obtained as well. This process takes several hours of work to do the preparations, research, communication back and forth to the customer, and a final draft of the proposal. I include a Critical Path (time line) that shows the length of time the project should take. This breaks down each major aspect of the project into the estimated time it should take to complete that phase of the project.

The final step is to agree on the final fixed price of the project and contract (which is included with the detailed proposal). This is then signed by you, the client, and allows me to start work on your project. I do hope this clears up any possible confusion on the difference between a Ball Park and the detailed estimate.

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