Home Repair Estimates

[whocares]

I am curious to know how many estimates people consider reasonable for a home repair. We need to have some plumbing done and I had one estimate today. After getting the price, I definitely will have at least two more estimates before I make a decision.

[KimE]

Last year we replaced all the windows in the house. We had 3 estimates I think that is pretty much the "norm".
Kim

[Paula H]

I usually try to get three estimates, but for some jobs I just end up giving up on tradesmen and will settle for two.

[Beth]

I think it depends somewhat on the size of the job, whether you have any experience with any of the repairment, your comfort level with the bids, and somwhat related -- how far apart the bids are.

We recently had the siding replaced on our house and then had everything painted. I was about to split the job and have one company replaced the siding and the dor and have another person paint because I thought it was going to save money, but I broke down the bids and when I got apples to apples, 3 bids were very nearly the same, a 4th never got completed but probably wasn't too far off, and one company bid the same job for about $5000 more than what we paid -- and they didn't have the price of the door factored in yet. :eek:

They didn't get the job.

[jking323]

I usually try to get three estimates, but for some jobs I just end up giving up on tradesmen and will settle for two.

I would try for three (seems to be the consensus), but I agree with this. It seems like it's hard to find repair guys who...show up...when they...say...they...will. It's really aggravating if you have to take off work to sit at home and wait for them, too. Not very professional.