Saturday: three “quick quotes.” Two are tyre-kickers collecting prices for Checkatrade. One is a kitchen that needs a site visit. If all three are free, your Sunday is gone and your true hourly rate is a joke.
A simple rule
| Ask | Charge? |
|---|---|
| Photo on WhatsApp, you already know the kit | No |
| Call-out to measure, two hours plus van | Yes — survey fee |
| Opening up, moisture meter, loft hatch | Yes |
| Written spec they will send to three others | Yes |
| Tiny job you will do this week anyway | Usually no |
Rule of thumb: if it uses the same unpaid hours you already baked into the hourly rate, a free sketch is fine. If it is a job in itself, it is a job. Price it.
Worked example
Bathroom survey: 90 minutes on site, 30 minutes writing, van. True rate £40/hour. That is £80 of time plus a slice of van. Charge £90–£120. Written on the paper: “Deducted from the job if you accept within 30 days.”
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Time (2 hours × £40) | £80 |
| Van / minimum | £20–£40 |
| Survey fee (example) | £100 |
Say it on WhatsApp before you book the visit: “A measured quote is £100, taken off the job if we go ahead.” People who vanish at that sentence were never going to book you.
What people miss
Free surveys for everyone “for marketing”. Your rate already includes some unpaid quoting. It does not include being the free designer for the street.
Charging and then ghosting the write-up. If they paid, they get the paper the same week. Otherwise you are the problem.
Forgetting CIS and invoices. A survey fee is still a supply. Invoice it. Do not take a vague cash “for your time” with no record.
Deducting the fee from a later, smaller job. Write the window. Thirty days is enough. After that it is spent time.
Related guides
FAQ
- Will I lose jobs if I charge?
- You will lose shopping lists. The people who want you on site usually accept a fee that comes off the job.
- Can I charge for a quote I already sent for free?
- No. If you already sent it, that one is free. Charge the next visit.
- What if they accept someone else after paying?
- The fee was for the survey, not a hostage. Keep it. That is what they bought.
- Is a video walkthrough still free?
- If it is five minutes of WhatsApp video, treat it like a photo. If they want a full spec from a 20-minute tour, that is a survey.
