What to include in a quote

A good quote is a dispute-prevention document. Almost every argument on a domestic job traces back to something that was assumed rather than written down.

The structure

1. Your business details, including VAT number where registered.
2. The customer and the site address.
3. Scope of work, itemised, in the order it will be carried out.
4. Materials — what is included, the specification, and who supplies what.
5. Exclusions, stated plainly: making good, decoration, waste, scaffolding, asbestos, anything hidden.
6. Price, and whether it is fixed or an estimate, with VAT shown separately.
7. Timescale — start window, duration, and dependencies on other trades.
8. Payment terms — deposit, stage payments, balance, and payment method.
9. Variations — how extra work will be priced and approved before it is done.
10. Guarantee, and any manufacturer warranties passed on.
11. Validity period for the price.

Write exclusions like you mean them

"Excludes making good" is vague. "Price excludes plastering and redecoration to the chased wall; we will leave the chase filled and flush ready for decoration" is clear, and it is the sentence that stops an argument in week three.

Variations

State that any additional work will be quoted and agreed in writing before it is carried out. Then hold yourself to it. A short message confirming an extra and its cost, agreed before you start, protects both sides.

Presentation matters more than you think

A tidy, consistent document with your business name on it wins against a text message even at a higher price, because it signals how you will run the job.