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I lost $700 on a driveway job because I didn't write down the extras | Scope Creep Solutions - Freelance Forum - The Community for Independent Professionals

wade_anderson•2mo ago

I lost $700 on a driveway job because I didn't write down the extras

Guy hired me to pressure wash his driveway for $200. Simple enough. Then he asked me to do the sidewalk too. Then the patio. Then the garage floor. Four hours later I'm still there. I didn't say no because I wanted to be nice. He paid the original $200 and acted like I owed him the rest. How do you guys draw the line before it gets out of hand?

3 comments

3 Comments

ward.diana2mo ago

I mean, it's so relatable because I have a degree in being too nice and it's never paid out a single dollar. My version of this was offering to "just quickly" haul away some branches for a neighbor and ending up basically clearing their whole overgrown lot for a thank you and a warm soda. Idk maybe it's just me but I think there's a special circle of contractor hell for people who add on work without talking money first, and we all end up there at some point. The hardest part is finding that balance between being helpful and not letting someone turn your time into their personal discount day. Your story makes me feel a little better about my own mistakes so thanks for that, even if your wallet is crying.

ruby_bell472mo ago

Did you talk about what would cost extra before you started the sidewalk and patio? A quick "hey that's outside the original deal, it'll be another $50 for each section" would have saved you that headache.

danielowens2mo ago

You said "a quick hey that's outside the original deal" and I get what you're aiming for, but honestly that's not really how it works with concrete work like this. By the time you start noticing extra sections, the concrete is already being poured or set up, so stopping to haggle over $50 per section would just make a mess and waste time. Most contractors I've dealt with will give you a rough estimate upfront but they don't itemize every little add-on like extra forms or leveling because the scope changes as they dig. A better approach is to ask for a written breakdown of what's included in the base price before they start, so there's no guesswork later. But your point about communication is dead on - it's on both the homeowner and the contractor to be clear, not just one side.