The Myth of the Accurate Phone Quote

Contractors quoting prices over the phone without seeing a property: "Is never realistic." According to Erik, even homes that started as "cookie-cutter" models diverge over time as different owners, friends, or DIYers make alterations.

"Everyone, including us, needs a visual," Erik explains. Without a site visit, a contractor is only getting a small "slice of the pie." This is especially critical for older homes where hidden variables like knob and tube wiring or unrecorded structural changes lurk behind the walls.

Why Visuals Matter for High-Cost Trades

Erik highlights that high-end cost phases—specifically electrical, HVAC, and plumbing—require physical inspections to prevent future disasters.

• Plumbing: A 50-year-old home might have a hidden pipe backup. Without seeing it, you risk a brand-new kitchen flooding the first time it's used.

• Electrical: Previous owners may have hired unlicensed "experts," leaving behind a mess of altered wiring.

• Efficiency: Seeing the site allows the team to dot the i's and cross the t's, ensuring the job is done right the first time.

Ultimately, Erik believes that jumping into a project without a visual inspection is a recipe for constant "back and forth" and mounting expenses that deal with that.