Reply #4: This could be a case of fraud [View All]

[conscious evolution]

Or it could be a case of protecting the customer from hidden or unexpected cost overruns from unexpected repairs for hidden damage or other problems that are not apparent until construction starts.Without further info it is hard to tell what they are doing here.
As a electrician in the home remodal field I run into unexpected diffuculties all the time.What may start out as a simple kitchen remodel can easily turn into a meter and panel replacement if existing load calculations and breaker spaces are not adequate for the upgrade.I recently had this very thing happen to me.What started as a simple $1200 dollar project mushroomed to a $4800 dollar job because of inadequate electrical service equipment in the house.(They were replacing gas appliances with an all electric kitchen.The new range/oven combo at 60 amps(not even including the load factor for a new dishwasher,disposal,refrigerator and new convienance outlets) combined with the 70 amp existing load was well over the load available from their old 125 amp service.Not upgradind the service would have resulted in an unsafe system that could easily have burned their house down.)
As long as the customer knows it is an estimate based on a worse case scenario and that it could end up costing a lot less I have no problem with this.
I also see where this could lead to serious abuse of the customer.Definitely something to keep an eye on.