Free estimates are a waste of time.... You could literaly do them all day and not make a dime from it. Some often do this, as I have in the past. Most of it can be done right over the phone on first contact, if scripted right.
Phone call:
"I think I need a service up-grade, I would like to get an estimate..."
"Well, are rates are $$$.$$ an hour, with %% mark-up on material."
(Either they hang up then, or stay for the ride...)
On average a service change can consume (So-many) hours, and approximately (So much) in materials, final results in cost can vary.
(Either they hang up then, or stay for the ride...)
If you like I can set up an appointment for someone to meet with you on-site for an estimate, from/to (two hour window), on some day...
(Either they hang up then, or stay for the ride...)
You have now given them 3 chances to back out, and 2 general points of information as a ball-park cost. Odds are it's yours when you get there, or someone else has already started it by the time you get there. If they go into shock on the first 2 points, theres no reason to even get the address.
