What's your approach to pricing complex or uncertain jobs?

We're seeing an increase in jobs where the full scope isn't clear until we're on-site—older systems, hidden damage, customer uncertainty about what they actually need. This creates tension between wanting to win the work and protecting margin.

I'm interested in how your teams structure pricing for this scenario. Specifically:

  • Do you lead with time-and-materials, or do you find ways to cap exposure while still quoting?
  • How do you communicate uncertainty to customers without undermining confidence?
  • What percentage of your revenue now sits in this "discovery" category?

Our current approach is creating friction between sales and operations. Sales wants to commit; operations wants contingency. I'd like to understand how others have resolved this tension.

Parents
  • honestly i just tell em straight up look i cant see through walls and they usually get it

    had a lady last week want a quote on rewiring her whole basement over the phone. i was like ma'am i dont even know if you have a basement. she laughed. scheduled the diagnostic. sometimes simple works

Reply
  • honestly i just tell em straight up look i cant see through walls and they usually get it

    had a lady last week want a quote on rewiring her whole basement over the phone. i was like ma'am i dont even know if you have a basement. she laughed. scheduled the diagnostic. sometimes simple works

Children
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