Measure before you call
Know the size of the job and what it needs, so quotes are easier to compare. Same math the pros use.
Snap the problemTake a photo of what's wrong. See which kind of pro to call, how soon, and what to do first.Yard and gardenOutline a lawn, bed or driveway on a satellite map. Get the area, the edge length, and how much mulch, sod, gravel, topsoil or seed to buy.Roof sizeHow many squares your roof is and its pitch, from your address or from the house's footprint. Roofers price by the square.RoomsAdd each room's size, doors and windows. Get floor and wall area, gallons of paint, boxes of flooring and feet of baseboard.Claim or pay yourself?Repair estimate against your insurance deductible: what a claim would actually pay, and when paying yourself is usually smarter.
Measurements are estimates. Your pro will confirm sizes on site before giving a final price.