We’re always getting calls from customers asking about ballpark pricing for their siding project, and we don’t mind one bit! However, lots of contractors HATE getting these calls and refuse to answer these questions. Have you ever wondered why? Well, it basically comes down to one of two things: either they don’t know, or they don’t want to tell you.
1: They Don’t Know (But Maybe They Should)
The first (and simplest) reason that a contractor would refuse to help you with a budget price is that they might not have enough information to come up with numbers without first doing an in-depth measurement. For siding renovation projects, there are a number of factors that can cause the price of a project to change significantly, but an experienced contractor should be able to get enough information from a few simple questions to give you a pretty reliable ballpark range of prices for various products.
If a contractor claims to have plenty of experience with your type of project but they can’t get you a budgetary number for the job, they might not be as experienced as they say they are.
2: They Think You’re a “Tire-Kicker”
When we worked as manufacturer’s reps (learn more about our previous work history here) we usually had to staff our trade show booth at between 4 and 8 events per year. The number one complaint we heard from contractors, year after year, was that they hate “tire-kickers”. A “tire-kicker” is anyone that the salesperson believes isn’t ready to make a purchase right away, and therefore is a waste of time (according to them).
Aside from the fact that this attitude is rude and generally unpleasant, there’s a very practical reason why we think this is wrong. Since like most homeowners you’ve never completed a siding renovation before, it’s completely logical to try and determine approximately what the cost might be before you interrupt your life to set appointments for contractors to come measure your home. As a matter of fact, studies have shown that the average homeowner takes somewhere between 6 months to 2 years from the moment they first start considering a siding project to actually starting the job.
As a company designed to provide homeowners the best possible experience on their siding renovation project, it’s part of our job to work with clients that just aren’t ready yet to sign a contract. Contractors that won’t answer basic questions might not have the same philosophy.
3: They want to make a sales pitch
Unfortunately, some contractor salespeople were trained with old school sales tactics. One of these tactics is to get through the prospective client’s front door by any means necessary. Sometimes this means withholding simple information, like budgetary pricing, until the salesperson is at the kitchen table. Many of the really sleazy sales tricks from 30 to 40 years ago have fallen out of fashion, but there are still salespeople who will try to trick people into signing a contract before they are really ready.
For us, we would be absolutely sick to our stomachs if one of our clients moved forward without being 100% comfortable with every aspect of the project. That’s why we never bring contracts to first (or second) meetings. That’s why we don’t take any payment before we actually start the job. That’s why our quotes are valid for at least 6 months after we initially present them (if you like the way this sounds, click here to read more about our Stress-Free Siding Renovation).
At the end of the day, if we as a company refuse to give ballpark pricing to potential clients, we are withholding extremely important information from people that would help them prioritize their home renovation projects and budgets for the future.
How to get budgetary pricing from Blue Jay Exterior Renovations
When calling to ask for a budgetary range of prices, there are a few key pieces of information that will help us get a clear idea of the project you are considering:
1. Type of structure (i.e. bungalow, split-level, two story) and existing siding materials
2. Square footage of the home (above-ground living area)
3. Please have a photo of the entire front, or an address we can see clearly on Google street view
4. Siding product(s) for budgetary consideration
From there you will receive one or more budgetary ranges, depending on what you’ve requested.
For example, to remove old stucco and replace with Hardie siding and trim on a standard 1,000 square foot bungalow with no gables, we’d recommend a budget between $17,000 and $24,000 including new soffit, fascia, and eavestrough. (You could potentially save a few thousand dollars if we could install Hardie and wood strapping over your existing stucco rather than removing it. Learn more here.)