[say_it_as_it_is]

Have you found contractors willing to accept an estimate from a remote estimation tool without seeing the job in person? They're sore about visiting just to provide an estimate yet also wouldn't dare give one based on photos or video.

Another thing. Small business contractors have got to be the most dishonest people I've ever worked with. I've caught so many lies and frauds. Only reason I don't report them is because they'd kill me or destroy my property. I'm not going to entrust them with any personal information that they could use to overcharge me, charge me for other jobs, or associate me with any other scam jobs they're running.

Be strong! You're going to be dealing with characters..

[RobKanda]

One of the features we recently launched and have a good user base using is an estimator widget we host, specific to the contractor, that allows for estimation fo boiler installations. We're also working on an electrical installation one at the moment. These allow the homeowner to get a quick estimate without bothering the contractor, then select an option if they decide that's what they want, at which point the contractor is sent an email to arrange with the customer. We work with the contractors on these to ensure they're as accurate as possible, and priced as the contractor wants.

In terms of the dishonesty, we believe that's a completely untrue and unfounded accusation. We have a very trust worthy base of users, who whenever an issue has been raised have been the first to jump at rectifying the situation. In our contractors eyes, customers can be the untrustworthy ones, not paying on completion, saying things aren't up to code when they are, accusing the contractor of property damage they didn't cause. We try not to discriminate.

[sammyd56]

A stark reminder to end users of any service that if you are not paying, you are the product. There is good reason that the sale of financial services through intermediaries is a highly regulated area: it takes a firm counter-force to stop businesses from exploiting customers when all the incentives are there, and there are enough links in the chain for plausible deniability.