I work for a building contractor and I spend most of my workday giving on-site estimates. I mainly go to people’s homes, discuss the work they want done, inspect the site, and give them a quote. 

Robert: You want to expand your kitchen, is that right? 

Abigail: Yes, with our growing family, we need more room. 

Robert: It looks like it’s about 200 square feet right now. You want to double the size? 

Abigail: That’s the idea, but I want to get it done quickly, say within two months. Is that possible? 

Robert: Well, we’ve finished jobs like this before in under three months, but that’s without any delays. Sometimes getting the exact materials the client wants or finding [bad word] problems that don’t appear until we start work can set us back. 

Abigail: That’s my greatest fear. I’m afraid of delays and cost [bad word]  

Robert: Well, we try to be upfront with our clients by giving them a breakdown of the costs of the materials and labor involved in the project. We also give them a schedule of when the work will [bad word]  You’ll get a detailed estimate in writing, at no charge and with no obligation. 

Abigail: How long does it take to get the estimate? 

Robert: We usually mail or fax the estimate within two days. 

Abigail: That’s great. Let me tell you exactly what we have in mind...