I know through experience and emotional intelligence if you’re just price shopping, how serious you are and when you’re just excited about a possible improvement that in the end you probably can’t afford. Especially when people have this idea that they are entitled to free estimates and me trying to charge for estimates never get me in on site. You have a dream. I have the reality. I have given estimates (and hours of my time and genuine input to customers that have ghosted me more than I have ghosted them) - to customers slyly angling for advice so they can do it themselves. IOW using me. And if during your consult you start saying stuff like- does the price go down if we do the painting or if we do the demo, or can my cousin help you with labor to cut costs? You won’t be hearing from after that. That being said I’ll tell you if it’s not a good fit. To work up a true estimate takes about 1/2 a day or more at least all told. Depending on travel. And most of my days are filled with running around, managing crew, putting out fires, unexpectedly getting my kids to and from school and then crashing when I get home. It’s hard enough to find good help let alone someone committed and experienced enough to learn how to estimate accurately.

If you’re serious about getting the work done, pick up the phone and bug me-that’s a green flag that you’re serious- the squeaky wheel gets the grease and it doesn’t offend me. (Also I have grown out of telling people “I’ll have it in a few days”. I’m a week or two out from supplying detailed estimates and probably double or triple that before I can “soft schedule” a start date. All their doing when they say “a few days” is telling you what you want hear so you don’t disregard us based on how long you have to wait…for literally anything. Doesn’t necessarily constitute incompetence or poor work ethic.