Can you give me an exact quote up front?

To ensure you get the best possible value, I do not generally offer exact quotes. I can give you a good ballpark number, we can discuss the cost of previous similar projects, and I will always respect your budget. If we write a number in stone ahead of time, it will have contingencies built in, which may or may not be needed. Charging you hourly allows me to split shopping time amongst clients when possible. For example, if multiple clients need something from the hardware store, I combine it into one trip and split the billing, making it more cost effective for you. So, while we can certainly set a budget, and I can give you a good idea of what numbers to expect, I do not usually offer precise and final numbers up front.