I hired a contractor but failed to set a price in advance; do I have to pay whatever he demands?
Seforim write that it’s important to set a price in advance when hiring a contractor; otherwise they may have expected to earn a certain amount—and even if they ultimately settle for less, they may not fully be mochel (forgive) the person who hired them.
In case a price wasn’t set in advance the minhag hamedinah (the customary amount paid for such a job in that particular locale) should be followed. If a company was engaged and they have a known, official price for that service, it takes precedence over minhag hamedinah. If neither of these solutions is applicable, the lowest prevailing price for that type of work should be paid—after factoring in the contractor’s level of professionalism. #553?1
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