“Can You Just Come and Look? It’ll Only Take 5 Minutes…”
We recently had a call that perfectly sums up a common misunderstanding about small jobs and a craftsperson’s time.
A potential customer rang and said:
“Can you come over and take a look? It’ll just take 5 minutes. It’s only a small job.”
Our reply was simple and polite:
“If you can send us a few photos, we can give you a quick estimate first.”
This is our usual process. Photos help us understand the job and the environment, save unnecessary travel, and let us be up front about costs before anyone commits to anything.
But the caller didn’t want to do that.
“No, just come and look – it’s only a small job.”
So we asked a few more questions.
After a bit of digging, it “turned out” that the “small job” was actually:
- Installing a U-shaped countertop, and
- Installing a stove as part of it
They also lived 45 minutes away – so that would be 1.5 hours of travel time for us, just to “take a look”.
Based on their description, we gave a rough estimate over the phone:
Around £500 for the countertop and stove installation.
And then… they disappeared. No reply, no follow-up. Just gone.
Why We Don’t “Just Pop Over”
From the customer’s point of view, it might feel like:
- “It’s only a quick look.”
- “They’re in the area anyway.”
- “It won’t cost them anything to just see it.”
But from our side, that “quick look” is:
- Time spent travelling (in this case, 1.5 hours return)
- Fuel and vehicle costs
- Time we could be spending actually doing paid work
- Professional advice and assessment based on years of experience
That’s real value – and it has a cost.
Why We Ask for Photos First
We’re not being awkward when we ask for photos. We’re trying to:
- Understand the true size of the job
- Give a fair ballpark price up front
- Avoid wasting your time and ours
- Decide whether a site visit is needed – and if so, schedule it properly
For straightforward joinery and fitting jobs, clear photos are often enough to quote accurately. For bigger or more complex projects, we’ll always explain that a paid site visit or detailed survey is the next step.
The Takeaway: Value the Craftsperson’s Time
If you’re thinking about having some work done, here’s how to get the best from us (and any tradesperson):
- Be honest about the size of the job – if it’s a full countertop and stove, that’s not “just a small job”.
- Send photos – it really does help us help you faster.
- Expect a rough estimate first – before anyone gets in a van.
- Understand that time, travel, and expertise have value – not just the minutes spent with tools in hand.
We’re always happy to look at new projects and offer advice.
All we ask is that our time – just like our craft – is valued.