On Thu, 27 Dec 2012 10:00:45 -0800 (PST),
wrote:

The termite inspector reports a pipe leak under a house.
The owner of the house calls me to check it out.
I crawl under the house for the better part of an hour getting dusty, dirty and tired.
About 80% of the time I don’t find a leak.
I’m guessing that termite inspectors lie about 80% of the time
but what do you think?
I tell the owner of the house that I couldn’t find a leak.
If my policy is that I don’t charge for estimates,
should I charge the owner for the termite inspectors wild goose chase?
What would you do?


Well let me tell you what an Engineer I respect once told me. He said
and I quote, " Doug, the last time I did anything for free was when I
did my homework ". And he wasn't kidding.