Sure, it common with in demand guys with good reputations. It takes a lot of time to put together an actual detailed bid as opposed to a guesstimate, which is usually based on experience and current commodity prices. They prefer to get compensated for that detailed and time consuming work, even if it's a nominal fee like 1-2K. Not hard to understand. It's also a tool that they use to weed out dreamers from those who are serious about a project. Those who proceed to build do get the amount credited back towards the project. Those who are't serious self select themselves out of contention for their time. They spend their time much more productively.

I have had experience with one of each (one who charges for bidding and one who does not.) I did not find quality of workmanship to be worse with the no fee GC. I also found the fee-GC to be the one to charge change-orders all the time. He was the one, despite me having paid him to get a good estimate, who was the most "off" in his estimate (we went more overbudget with him)...

Fee-free guy did have a couple of change orders, but we were very, very close to budget.

Both were "in-demand" One of them actually did the work himself (fee-free gc) the other hired guys to do the work. I had better service and communication with the fee-free guy.

YMMV.

Thanks for the information!

Anita

message removed

This post was edited by robynstamps on Mon, May 26, 14 at 23:01

I find it interesting that an entity is so insecure in their ability, that they ask another to guarantee their future, and that the respondent doesn't ask, "would they do that for me," prior to forking over the cash, and betting on the come.

what? 10,000 for a bid that ridiculous

I have not heard of this approach. Where I live the contractor would have no work.

I removed my message.

This post was edited by robynstamps on Mon, May 26, 14 at 23:02