Bid vs. Estimate - What's the difference?
Frequently asked questions about services and pricing
Q: Why can't you give me a general estimate on the price over the phone?
A: We find that quotes given over the phone rarely work in the customer’s favor. We prefer to arrive at your home, evaluate the situation and give you an exact price, not an estimate.
Some electricians will give you an unrealistically low price on the phone, only to raise the price once they are in your home. At Accurate Electric, we prefer to conduct ourselves differently. While the process of building an accurate quote may require some patience, this policy is fair and in your best interest.
Q: What is the hourly rate for an electrician?
A: All of our prices are billed per job or task. This system works best because it gives our customers a reliable price before any work is done. When rates are hourly-based and the cost of materials is added, it isn’t possible to determine the final cost until the job is complete.
With our "know the total cost before you start" pricing, you will have more control and a better ability to make decisions about what you want done. It’s an excellent way to eliminate the guesswork for our customers.
Q: Why do you charge a consultation fee? Other companies provide free estimates.
A: It’s simple. We believe the consultation fee is a good value for our customers. We only send licensed, background-checked, criminal-free, drug-free, photo-ID and uniformed electricians equipped with stocked vans and a professional, ready-to-work attitude. And, you can expect us to be there. Because you are seeking professional advice, this request calls for a small fee.
Ask yourself why a company would be willing to come to your home for free. It’s possible that they’re looking for work and plan to make up their overhead cost once they get to your home.
Q: Is there a minimum charge?
A: Yes. The consultation fee is the minimum charge. You will be responsible to pay for this plus any work that is performed after that point. This collected fee also serves as a deposit on work agreed upon and scheduled for a later (within 30 days) date.
Q: Why do you need to charge me a consultation fee when I already know what's wrong?
A: We appreciate that you have looked at your system/situation and feel that you have properly diagnosed the problem. However, we have highly trained professional technicians that may find a way to fix your problem at a lower cost. Occassionally, the technician discovers something a homeowner has overlooked and it ends up saving the homeowner a significant amount of money.
