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Learning from my big quote error on a roofing project

Last year, I quoted a roofing job way too low because I rushed the math. I missed some material costs and labor hours, so when we started, I realized we were in the red. It put a lot of stress on my small crew and my wallet. I felt really stupid and worried we might not finish. But I sat down and redid the numbers, then discussed it with the client honestly about the mistake. They agreed to a fair adjustment, and we completed the job well. Now, I have a second person check every quote before it goes out. It’s a small win, but it saved me from bigger headaches later. In my experience, taking time to review your work can prevent costly errors.
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3 Comments
nancy_butler
Labeling it a 'small win' seems like an overstatement. These kinds of mistakes are common and often fixable without much drama.
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terrym45
terrym456d ago
Yeah, calling it a 'common' mistake is fair, but man, that stress when you realize you're losing money on a job is its own kind of problem. For me, the win wasn't just fixing the math, it was having that tough talk with the client without them getting upset. Setting up that second check now means I avoid that whole sick feeling, which is a bigger deal to me than just redoing some numbers.
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elizabeth97
That sick feeling... avoiding it is the real win.
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