Contractor visit questions

The short answer

The four groups below are ordered by what each one establishes. What was checked and what was observed are matters of fact. What is being assumed and what would change the view are judgements — and a judgement can be examined, which is why those two groups are worth the most.

A quoted price rests on assumptions about material, depth, and length. Ask how each of those was established, and what happens to the work if one of them turns out to be different. That is the same question a written proposal answers in its exclusions, asked earlier and in person.

If a method has already been named, the useful follow-up is what that choice rests on, and what would have to be different about this line before another method became the sensible one.

What was checked

• Which fixtures did you check, and which behaved normally?
• Which access point did you use, and how far did you reach?
• What could you not check today, and why?

What was observed

• What did you see, and where along the line?
• How was that location measured, and from what point?
• Is that recorded anywhere — on video, in a report, on the invoice?

What is being assumed

• What does your price assume about material, depth, and length?
• How was each of those established?
• What happens to the price if any of them is different?

What would change your view

• Which of your statements are observations and which are recommendations?
• What would you need to see to be more certain?
• What would change your recommendation?
• What are the alternatives, and why this one for this property?
• What are you not proposing to address, and why?