Why a Phone Estimate is Not Such a Good Idea

waterheater leaked and caused over $9000.00 in damages.

We get a lot of phone calls from customers asking for a “phone estimate”. Usually, these customers are just checking prices, looking for the “best deal”. The problem here is that it is unreasonable to expect a phone estimate, given sight unseen, to be a firm price the customer can hold the contractor to, and it is unfair to expect it to be accurate, given all the variables involved in a plumbing repair job.

At Sav-On Plumbing, we offer a free on-site estimate and we will give you a full description of what we will do and a firm price you can hold us to, given that the work involved is what we estimate it to be. Sometimes, when the work is hidden from view this is not possible. Our policy in this case is to give an estimate based on what we think is involved, and once the problem is exposed (for instance, a leak behind the wall), we will confirm what the actual job is and the actual cost. We do NOT want to be the guy who quotes a low price over the phone just to get to the job, and once we’re there say “Oh, this job is much more involved and blah, blah,blah, and it’s going to  cost you two/three times the original phone estimate. Their hope is that once they’re there, you’ll figure “I might as well have them fix it”, and you end up paying through the nose for it. At best, they have wasted your time. We are not looking to waste your time or ours. Call a few companies and get their phone estimate; then call us and we’ll look at the job and give you a price you and we can live with. You’ll save time and money dealing with us-That’s why we’re Sav-On Plumbing.