How we price work
We quote first, every time, in writing. The number holds unless the job itself changes and you tell us to go ahead with the change. That is the entire policy.
You get the number before we start
Nobody in your house should be watching a clock they cannot see. So we scope the job, send you a written quote covering labor and materials, and wait for a yes. If the quote does not work for you, that is a fine answer and it costs you nothing.
For bundled work we quote the list as a list, so you can see what each line costs and drop the ones you want to skip. For a run of small jobs it is often cheaper to book them into one visit than to spread them across three.
What changes a quote
Wall type matters more here than almost anywhere. Anchoring into CBS block is slower than wood frame and needs different fasteners, so a TV mount in a 1970s condo is not the same job as the identical mount in a newer western community home. Height matters too: anything that needs a tall ladder or a second person costs more than something reachable from a two-step.
For painting, prep is the variable, not the paint. Filling, sanding, sealing hairline cracks, masking tile and railings and screened patios, and how many coats the old color needs before the new one covers. For locks, the count of cylinders and whether they can be rekeyed to one key or need replacing. Access counts as well: elevator reservations, permitted work hours in a building, and drive time out to the far western communities all show up in a quote.
The fastest way to get a number
Text photos. One wide shot of the room or wall, one close shot of the specific thing, and a line about what you want to happen. For locks, a close photo of the face of the deadbolt and the brand name if you can read it. For painting, tell us the community and whether the association has an approved palette.
Most jobs get a quote back the same business hour. If a job genuinely needs eyes on it, we say so and set an arrival window rather than guessing at a number and revising it later.
No surprises at the end
If we find something the quote did not cover, work stops and you get a call with the options and what each one costs. Nothing gets added to an invoice you did not approve first.
Materials are itemized on the quote. If you would rather buy the paint, the mount or the lock yourself, say so and we will quote labor only and tell you exactly what to buy so the visit is not wasted.
Questions about quotes and billing
Do you charge for a quote?
No. Quotes from photos are free and so is a look in person when a job needs one. You only pay once you have approved a written number and we have done the work.
Is there a minimum for a small job?
Small jobs are welcome. Your quote covers the visit and the work, and you see it before you agree to anything. If you only need one small thing done, we will tell you what it costs to come out and you can decide from there, or hold it until you have a few items to bundle.
Can you bundle several jobs into one visit?
Yes, and it is usually the cheapest way to buy our time. Send the whole list even if some items are small. We will quote them line by line, tell you what fits in one visit, and schedule it so the technician is not driving back and forth.
Do you take payment before the work?
For most jobs we invoice when the work is finished and you have looked at it. Larger painting jobs may take a deposit toward materials, which is stated on the quote before you approve it, never sprung on you afterward.
How do you bill an association or a management company?
On account. Work orders come in through your system or by email, each completed ticket gets a photo report, and everything lands on one monthly statement rather than an invoice per visit. Certificate of insurance and W-9 go on file at setup.
Get a number before anyone starts
Text photos and the list. Most jobs get a written quote back the same business hour.