Too late now but next time shop around.
A 50 gallon water heater costs $500 and up at Home Depot. I install my own, but I can’t imagine labor costing that much. It takes me a couple hours to drain and remove the old one and install the new one. That company must be making $700 an hour.
I’m selling a previously enjoyed 75 Gallon NG water heater/power vented for $300.
Husband turns down more work with people who want a tankless and have hard as hell water with mega particulate. He tells them to see if they can get their water situation corrected first before putting in a tankless or said customer will be calling and cursing within 24 months. Tankless wholesale here (Navien) go for about $1400
Agreed. I have replaced a few in my life and generally they are pretty easy. It can be rough if you are required to strap them to the wall and have an old house. The old studs can be a tad on the hard side.