Must be Spring!

Last three estimates #1) Guy already had his contractor. I just supplied a "bid" for his price check #2) Couple had a derelict attic. Missing insulation, bare ceilings, blocked soffits and Can lights un-covered. Frost everywhere. They changed the return app't. on me twice then left a message saying that they "had figured out the problem" #3) Guy said to go ahead with repair job. Then his Dad found someone "cheaper". I had already cut this thing to bare bones and hoped to scrape $50/ hr IF things went perfectly well :woohoo:

Yep. Must be Spring!

My last 3 estimates went like this:

1) Estimate to repair leaks at various points of the ridge cap on a double wide mobile home. Turned out there's a 4 inch gap between the two sides of the home making the ridge sunk in and leaking. She hired some guy to fix it and all he did was cap over the existing caps. Still leaking. I noticed some curls at the bottoms most of the way around the whole roof. Checked it out and the bottom 1 ft. of decking is shot. All 3 neoprene pipe collars were also shot. And there were some missing shingles. 20 yr old DW with original 20 yr shingle on it. Bid to replace the roof adding ridge vent to form a crown at the ridge and ventilate the attic. Replace all bad wood. Etc. Bid it at DOUBLE what insurance pays. She hired 3 days after the estimate without getting any other bids.

2) Chimney leak. Bid to reflash medium sized vinyl siding chimney. Walkable on 3 sides steep on backside. Guy hired on the spot and wrote me a check for the full amount without me asking for any payment. I took it and did the work the next day.

3) Lady calls for an estimate to replace the roof on yet another DW stating that she already got one quote and it was "RIDICULOUS". This made me think it would just be a waste of time but it was not very far to her home so I went ahead and did an estimate for her without her being there. Left a copy of it and called her when I got back. Bid it at 50% higher than insurance pays. I asked her how did that compare to the other bid and to my surprise she said "Yours is about $700 less". At which time she stated but I'm not necessarily looking for the cheapest estimate but the best job. ( I think she's looking for both actually ) Time will tell on this one.

Yes clove there seems to be a diference between chicago & north, vs say Indy & south

In the last 45 days I've reworked chimneys on three different houses, and fixed two pitch changes, 35' & 50'. Fixed some overhangs as well. These repair jobs have filled our schedule very nicely. Of course I get the occasional 35-40 degree day to melt the snow before it comes back, unlike you guys.

Been a tough winter to make money unless you have a snow plow. Got the go-ahead on a 6 sq falt that I looked at last April. It was leaking then, I can't believe he waited this long. It's a rental. Went over this morning and cleaned off a foot of snow but there's 2" of ice that I couldn't get off. Hoping to do it later this week when it gets above 20F. Been looking at a lot of wet attics and ice dams but too darned lousy out to do much about them. We'll be busy when the weather finally breaks.

Yup. Just trying to keep the lights on

Price check! Oh how I wish I could hear those coming on the phone.

$50/hr...are you trying to actually pay the bills or something?