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It all depends on the project and what the municipality requires. Some are as little as 90 days; some are as much as 3-5 years out. Being some are way out it
You're right, it is all gambling.:)
Do you put a time limit (say six months or a year) on the life span of your budget estimates in case conditions change?
Isn't all estimating jobs "gambling?"
I do some consulting and budget estimates for some government entities and get paid for it.
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It's kind of like gambling isn't it. I have done estimates in the past and a year later seen my work in the new bid specs.
Robert Kulinski said:
I would think twice before giving budgets on public projects
Thats how I get paid some of the time.
I would think twice before giving budgets on public projects, especially if you want to perform the project as a performance contractor. One of your competitors can play the "conflict of interest" card like they have in the past and get your bid booted.
What about a 6 story parking garage in Salt Lake City?
I agree, most of the time it just part of the job, at least its mine now.
The one I described above did make me stop giving them to owners and some contractors I have not worked for before. Took me about 6 months before I, personally was starting to give them again.
Like demobud states, you never know who is on the other end.
I'm right there with you, I reluctantly did a small house demo for a guy,barely broke even after having to abate the exterior. Turned out the guy was a lawyer/developer who has since been a source of 10 jobs over the last six years. If I hadn't taken the job iwould have missed out on some really good interior loft strip outs.:P
No. I don't limit budget estimates. There is too much competition out there. If I say "No" well, they will just call the next guy and I don't want a potential client to stop calling. Even if it is a project I am not interested in I will still try to help. A potential client with a $50,000 demolition job might well be calling in 6 months with a $500,000 job. You just never know who is on the other end of the phone. I am working for one guy, who wanted a price to shoot a little 2 story warehouse. I thought the guy was half nuts, but come to find out he is financing $90 million out of the entire $120 million development out of his own pocket. The little 2 story project now has grown into the 10 story building next store, A 200' chimney, the earthwork and the utilities. 
What I do limit is the time spent on preparing and the level of information given in a budget. A lot of times a simple WAG will do it and then everybody is happy. If a lot of detail is required and I am not really interested in the project, then I will send them a schedule of hourly rates. I also keep a database of unit prices for demolition work in different areas of the country (and world) which I update whenever I get the bid results on a project. That way, if you want to know what it costs to tear down a 7 story precast parking garage in Buffalo I can tell you.
Another pain in the butt over the years was student wanting help writing papers. I always took the time to help them out. I always figure that one day one of them might just become the President of Bechtel. 
What I mean is do you limit the amount of budget estimates giving in any given time?
I have heard a couple of demolition contractors up here have stopped giving budget estimates due to it takes up their time and resources. Most of the time when it does finally reach the street, they know too much about the project and end up losing it in the end.
I know that I was working on a budget estimate a few years ago. I was working for the owner at first then he hired a contractor and we were asked to work with the contractor on the project, no problem since I have worked for the contractor for the past couple of years. This went on for about 2 years, then a new owner came in and fired the contractor and put the whole thing out on the street, where of course knowing everything we lost the job.
Loved to hear what you guys think.
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