There is nothing more frustrating to a
design/build remodeling contractor than
spending 15 or 20 hours with potential
clients—coaxing budget information
from them, suggesting approaches and
products, developing drawings, and generally
holding their hands as we're
expected to do—only to be told "Sorry,
but my husband and I have decided to
build a new house instead," or "We've
decided to have Contractor B do the
work you drew up because his price is
$1,100 less." All you can do is smile
weakly and suppress the impulse to say,
"Lady, I'd have given you $500 two
weeks ago to know this."
New Approach
In the last few years, I have been using
a system that eliminates some of this
risk.