Pricing & Quotes Explained

How We Approach Most Jobs

For the majority of work — repairs, maintenance, small builds, odd jobs — the most cost-effective approach is straightforward time and materials. You pay for hours worked and materials used. That's it.

We don't prepare formal written quotes unless a job is likely to exceed $2,000. Below that threshold, a formal quote typically costs more to produce than the job itself — it means two site visits, padded estimates to cover administration overhead, and a longer wait before anything gets done. Charging for time actually spent is faster, more transparent, and almost always cheaper for smaller work.

What We Charge

We'll confirm the applicable rate before we start, and check in with you before clocking on past what was expected.

All rates include GST.

Quotes, Assessments & Why We Charge for Them

We're often asked why we charge a fee for quotes — it's worth explaining what's actually involved.

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

• 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

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. Customers who move forward aren't paying extra — they're simply contributing upfront to the time required to do things properly.

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 — the real cost of quoting isn't quietly absorbed into everyone else's bill.

Insurance-Related Work

We're happy to assist with legitimate insurance repairs. However, we do not provide valuations or quotes solely for claim cash-outs or price checking. Insurance work often requires additional investigation, documentation, and explanation — the assessment fee ensures that time spent is for genuine repair work, not speculative or administrative-only requests.

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 before booking — we're always happy to talk it through.