If you think healthcare has the least transparent pricing, you would be wrong. Home services takes the cake.
Home Services Has the Worst Pricing Transparency
The Quotes
We got three quotes for installing a new septic tank and expanding the drain field:
- $36k for JUST the tank (no drain field)
- $16k for tank and drain field
- $15.5k for the tank and drain field
The Spread
I still can't get over the $20k spread between quotes one and two for half the work. One contractor wanted $36,000 for just the tank. Another would do the tank plus the drain field for $16,000. That's a $20,000 difference, and the cheaper option includes more work.
This kind of pricing inconsistency isn't unique to septic systems. It shows up across healthcare and most service industries. But home services might be the worst offender.
Bottom Line
Always get multiple quotes for home services. The pricing variance can be staggering, and you could save tens of thousands of dollars.
Transparent pricing in home services is basically nonexistent. The only way to protect yourself is to shop around and compare.
If you're planning a major home project, get at least three quotes before signing anything.