Gary D. Brenner, LLC

Set up an appointment.  I usually email first and wait a few hours and then follow that up with a call.  Then meet with the customer and go over the project.  I usually have them a bid sometimes within and hour or certainly within 24 hours. 

Every job is unique, so I don't have standard system.  I do have a minimum of $85.  On a large project, such as flipping a house, I require a refundable $300 up front for a bid.  Normally, when I get a job it's 20% up front and then a pay-as-we-progress idea.  On an average basis, the labor is 3.5 times the material.  This doesn't mean if you buy a $300 microwave that we're going to charge you $1050 to install it.  Things like that are a flat $80. We are lower than any other large company, because we don't have to pay for tV commercials, etc. 

My dad taught most everything and I owned a 100 unit apartment complex for 15 years where I did all the maintenance. 

I have a list on my website, but mostly my work comes from word of mouth, so they are usually friends and neighbors.

If you post a request for a pro, be serious.  Don't post just because your trying to get an idea of costs.  Each contractor usually is paying for your leads and you need to be prepared for your phone to ring all day.  You need to be as specific as possible.  In other words, if you need a new front door lock- then don't put that under Home Remodeling and vice-versa.

Their budget and time frame.  If this is a bathroom remodel and you only have one bath, then you need to have plans to be somewhere for a week or so, etc.