TOPIC: Repair estimate software?

I'm just starting out in the industry and would like to know how you guys feel about giving repair estimates? I've been asked by several clients,"how much will that set me back?" but I have declined to give an estimate because of lack of knowledge, and increase of liability... Do you guys do it? If so, do any of you reccomend a software for quick estimates?
Thanks for being so helpful! 

Hi Donald,

It's a huge legal liability and something inspectors don't do. In many states it's against almost all the inspector association standards that I know of. It'll also violate most insurance plans. The problem is that you're not an expert in all fields and can't get a quote that's always going to be right now.

What happens when you say something costs $1000 and ends up costing $25,000 to get fixed?

The best you can do is give a verbal estimate. That way nothing is written down and you're letting them know that you're just giving them a ball park figure.

Always verbal Don.  And make it clear that you really don't know.  And that it depends on who they call.  And it depends on what cannot be seen.  And it depends on...  you can go on and on.

P.s.  A home inspector got sued not long ago, and the people won, because he thought a beam repair would be about $20K and it ended up being nearly $200K.  Guess who got to pay the difference?

www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story...pection-lawsuit.html

I was a general contractor at one time and I can't even tell you how much a 2 x 4 costs today!

There is a lawsuit against a home inspector for improperly estimating.

It could be perceived that you are attempting to gain work from your home inspection which may not be legal in your state.

If you have insurance, your insurance provider will jack up your rates or cancel you as soon as they realize you fix things you are inspecting.

If you're a member of a home inspection association in your violating 18 standards of practice.

If your client were to get an estimate from a contractor, the contractor would come to have a look, measure up, go back to the office, get material prices, estimate labour, and get back to him in a day or two (if he's lucky) with a quote.  They expect you to do it on the spot?  Not reasonable.  You may be able to get close for something like replacing a water heater but for major repairs it is waaay to risky.