Transparent Estimate Policies on Ratedeed
Hiring a contractor shouldn't come with surprise dispatch charges or bait-and-switch pricing. On Ratedeed, every verified professional explicitly defines and publishes their upfront estimate policy directly on their profile and search cards using our standardized badge system:
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🌿 Roman Laurel Free Estimates Badge (
✦ FREE ESTIMATES ✦):- The contractor offers 100% free on-site, phone, or photo estimates.
- You will never be billed for an initial consultation, sizing walkthrough, or quote generation.
- Ideal for standard installations, reroofing, painting, kitchen remodeling, and landscape design.
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⚖️ Roman Scale Credited Diagnostic Fee Badge (
✦ $75 · APPLIED TO REPAIR ✦):- The contractor charges a standard, transparent diagnostic dispatch fee (typically $49 to $99) to cover technician travel time, specialized testing equipment, and hands-on troubleshooting (e.g. electrical circuit tracing, HVAC refrigerant leak detection, pipe camera inspection).
- 100% Repair Credit: If you hire the contractor to perform the recommended repair, 100% of your diagnostic trip fee is credited directly against the final project invoice.
How the Diagnostic Credit Works in Practice
Here is an example of how a credited diagnostic fee protects your wallet:
- Homeowner Requests Diagnostic Dispatch: Your AC unit stops cooling. You book an HVAC contractor whose profile shows a $75 Diagnostic Fee (Applied to Repair).
- Escrow Hold: You authorize the $75 fee, which is held securely in platform escrow.
- Technician Inspection: The HVAC tech inspects the unit and discovers a failed capacitor. They submit an in-app quote for the full repair: $250 Total.
- Automatic Credit Applied: Because you paid the $75 diagnostic fee, the system automatically applies a $75 credit, reducing your remaining balance to $175.
- Net Cost: You pay $175 for the repair + $75 diagnostic = $250 total. You pay zero extra for the diagnostic visit.
The 100% Automatic No-Show Guarantee
When you book a contractor with a diagnostic trip fee through Ratedeed, your payment is protected by our automatic No-Show Guarantee:
- If the contractor fails to arrive during your confirmed appointment window, 100% of the diagnostic fee is immediately and automatically refunded to your original payment card.
- You never have to spend hours arguing with customer service or waiting days for a bank dispute.
Guidelines for Contractors
Why Offering Transparent Policies Increases Booking Conversion
Homeowners are 60% more likely to request quotes from contractors who clearly display their pricing model upfront. Unclear pricing creates hesitation, whereas verified Roman badges signal professional integrity.
How to Configure Your Policy in Your Dashboard:
- Log in to your Contractor Dashboard and click Edit Profile.
- Scroll down to the Estimate Policy section.
- Select either Free Estimates or specify your Diagnostic Fee Amount with the "Credit Toward Repair" toggle enabled.
- Save your changes to immediately update your verified profile badge and search card listing.