Contractor charge $150 to give estimate / bid?

[Derek Tuohy]

Is it normal for a contractor to charge $150 fee to inspect a property in order to give a bid/line item estimate?  

[Bill B.]

Hopefully that means they are so busy/good that they don’t need your business. Or it could just be a sign of how many times they were called out and the person wasn’t serious. Or that they are way more expensive than their competitors. It could be a good sign or a bad one. Yo could ask if it wil be applied towards the job if you go forward?

ps. I’ve never paid for a job quote. But.  Nobody seems to have a problem with a plumber or appliance repair guy charging $100, sometimes $200 to give them an estimate on a job. And they’re doing 1/5th the work the contractor is, or less.