In our analysis of over 5,000 HVAC service bids, a startling pattern emerged: The “Double-Dip” Scope. Many service providers, facing their own margin pressures, have begun embedding redundant diagnostic fees and “fuel surcharges” into the line-item level of contracts—fees that are often already covered in the base maintenance agreement.
How to Protect Your Asset:
Audit the Diagnostic: Ensure “trip charges” aren’t being billed alongside “hourly diagnostics” for the same site visit.
Identify Ghost Surcharges: Fuel and environmental fees should be capped or eliminated in multi-year service agreements.
Leverage Vetting: Our internal “Bid Perfector” logic identifies these outliers before the contract is awarded, saving managers an average of $4,200 per $50k project.