Telling the customer what it will cost.
WHY IT IS DIFFICULT
The fault is not fully known until work begins.
WHAT THAT MEANS
Estimates must be conditional, and stated as such.
WHAT TO DO FIRST
Diagnose, and charge for it.
WHY CHARGE
Diagnosis is skilled work, and giving it free means customers take the diagnosis elsewhere.
WHAT TO EXPLAIN
That diagnosis is a separate charge, deductible against the repair if you do the work.
WHAT AN ESTIMATE SHOULD STATE
What is wrong, as far as established What work is proposed Parts required and their cost Labour hours and the rate Total What is not included What could change it Validity period
WHY WHAT COULD CHANGE IT
Related faults are frequently found once work begins.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH WITH THE CUSTOMER
That additional work requires their approval before proceeding.
WHY
Unauthorised additional work is the commonest dispute in this trade.
HOW TO OBTAIN APPROVAL
Contact them, explain, state the cost, and record the agreement.
WHAT TO RECORD
The approval, even by message.
WHAT TO DO IF THEY CANNOT BE REACHED
Stop, and wait.
WHY
Proceeding without approval means arguing about payment afterwards.
WHAT TO BUILD FROM RECORDS
Standard times for common jobs.
WHY
They make estimating fast and accurate.
WHAT TO TRACK
Estimated hours against actual, by job type.
