How We Approach Quotes
We keep our quoting process simple and sensible. Most smaller jobs are best handled on an hourly basis, and we only prepare formal written quotes when a job is likely to exceed $1,500 based on the information you provide. Larger work often involves planning, sourcing materials, and coordination, so quoting makes sense.
For everything else, it’s faster and more cost-effective for you, if we just get the job done.
Our Standard Rates
- Minimum charge: $247.50 – covers travel + first 2 hours on site for Masterton clients
- We can get through quite a lot of those little jobs in a couple of hours. Get your list to us and we’ll get you back on track. See a more detailed explanation here.
- Additional time: $110 per hour thereafter
- Materials & supplies: charged as required
- Mileage (outside Masterton): $1.05/km round trip from Masterton CBD
Why We Don’t Quote on Small Jobs
Jobs under the $1,500 mark generally take longer to quote than to complete. Quoting small tasks often means two site visits and padded estimates to cover administration, which raises the cost unnecessarily.
Charging transparently for the time spent results in fairer pricing and faster turnaround.
Ready to book in your project(s) – Request a Booking or Quote
Quotes, Assessments & Why We Charge for Them
We’re often asked why we charge a fee for quotes, so it’s worth explaining how our process works and what’s involved behind the scenes.
Unlike a rough estimate, a proper quote requires time, experience, and responsibility. It often involves a site visit, measurements, investigation of existing conditions, consideration of compliance and safety requirements, and in some cases liaison with third parties such as insurers, property managers, or suppliers. In many situations, producing a quote takes as much care and professional judgement as carrying out the work itself.
To reflect this, we charge a $247.50 (plus mileage) assessment and quotation fee for any job that requires a detailed scope of works and firm pricing.
What the assessment fee covers
The assessment fee contributes to:
- Time spent on site assessing the job properly
- Measuring, diagnosing issues, and identifying underlying problems
- Developing a clear and accurate scope of works
- Researching materials, methods, and compliance requirements
- Preparing a realistic, well-considered price – not a guess
This approach allows us to provide quotes that are accurate, fair, and achievable, rather than rushed or speculative.
Redeemable if the work goes ahead
If you proceed with the quoted work, the assessment fee is fully credited back as part of the job. In other words, customers who move forward aren’t paying extra – they’re simply contributing up front to the time required to do things properly.
Insurance-related work
Insurance work often requires additional investigation, documentation, and explanation. In some cases, clients are seeking confirmation of damage or pricing for reasons unrelated to carrying out the repair itself.
While we’re happy to assist with legitimate insurance repairs, we do not provide valuations or quotes solely for claim cash-outs or price checking. The assessment fee ensures that time spent preparing detailed documentation is for genuine repair work, not speculative or administrative-only requests.
Why we do it this way
Charging for assessments allows us to:
- Allocate time fairly across all customers
- Avoid rushed or incomplete quotes
- Maintain consistent pricing and service quality
- Focus on clients who intend to proceed with the work
It also helps keep our hourly rates competitive by ensuring the real cost of quoting isn’t quietly absorbed elsewhere.
When a fee may not apply
For very small or straightforward jobs, we may be able to give an indication of cost without a formal assessment. If you’re unsure whether an assessment fee applies to your job, just ask we’re always happy to talk it through before booking.