Is this a new trend with home maintenance contractors?

[debodun]

I've noticed lately that when I call a contractor to come and give me an estimate, instead of showing up and looking at the job, then jotting the estimate on the back of their business card, they ask first how much money I have budgeted to spend on the project. Most hang up when I tell them. Is it a new trend that contractors feel you out first and if you don't have at least $10,000 to hand over to them, they don't take jobs?

 

[kapustafooz]

I can't think of a worse scenario for a contractor dealing with a potential client than spending hours looking at their collapsed garage and measuring and estimating the costs of crew and materials only to be told when I hand them an estimate of $15,000, "Oh, I only thought it would cost around $1000." Remodeling costs big bucks nowadays and a lot of people just don't have the money. If they know ahead what they're dealing with, it saves them a lot of time that would be wasted on cheapskates that expect their whole house to be remodeled for $500.