This right fucking here. I usually at least talk to someone that a friend or family member recommends, but I also get other estimates as well. I've been burned too many times going the "cheap" route and then paying more to fix something later. And the worst part is that if it's family, you don't even have anyone you can get mad at.
LOL, I got an 80% furnace installed by my buddy (HVAC DUDE) in my old house around 2000 for $500 (cost of the furnace) and a 1/2 LB of weed back when I used to grow it. He would of done it for free for me, but he needed some "incentive" to get his lazy ass to do it. Took him like 4-5 hours total, including a new plenum piece from the furnace to the return. His company had a machine that you just fed in the dimensions and ot would cut and bend the metal to form one. He did not do the AC, since it was still good.
It's just the semi-annual anti-contractor circle jerk that I'm trying to avoid fighting over. I know that it won't accomplish anything, and no one wants to hear me ramble on at length over why contractor margins aren't what they seem (even if I think that's clearly Business 101 territory). Everyone hears anecdotes about this one guys cousin who once did $10k work for a case of Schlitz, and suddenly contractors are the devil and predatory and I don't even know anymore.
$10, Walmart. Hook it up to your hose, spray the entire lawn (might take 2 bottles). Do it once in the Spring and once around mid-July, and your grass will be completely clean and weed free. Super easy.
While I don't know the official name, it's just a leafy weed. There are very very tiny thorn-like hairs on the stem. The quickest and easiest way to get rid of it for the season is to go to home depot and buy the leafy weed herbicide. You spray it right over your grass, but it doesn't affect grass. Only the weeds of every variety. It's great for clovers also.
Wasnt trying to start a war or anything. Honestly at the time it was kind of last minute thing I had to have done. It was middle of winter, my shit went out and I did not have $2-3K just lying around for a new furnace, I was like 24 at the time. So I called my buddy. But I was surprised on the markup on that shit thats why I posted. Of course not all of us have a HVAC buddy they can call up, and im sure my buddy probably took some shortcuts installing the thing. (I know for sure he didnt do a chimney liner to todays codes which he was supposed to do) He kept on saying he was going to come over someday and do it, but never did. But he did test the draft and it was considered ok. I lived int hat house for few more years until I sold it. Today I would never trust the guy now that I have kids and shit. I dont want some high on coming over and doing my furnace 1/2 ass like.
Man, it isn't what they charge that drives me up the wall, it's the fact that not once have I ever EVER dealt with a contractor who showed up when he said he was going to nor finished a job on time. I'm dealing with this big time right now cause I'm remodeling and expanding one of my restaurants.
You're fine. This was finals week for me, still haven't had a chance to grade anything and I think I blew my back out again. I'm just touchy/bitchy