For homeowners · Quotes & costs
What should a tradesperson quote include?
A quote should tell you what will be done, what it will cost, when it will happen and what you are covered for. If any of those four are missing, ask before you accept.
The checklist
- Business details — trading name, address, contact details, and VAT number if registered.
- A description of the work, room by room or item by item.
- Materials — what is included, what specification, and whether you or the tradesperson supplies them.
- Exclusions — anything explicitly not covered, such as making good or waste removal.
- Price, clearly stating whether it is fixed or an estimate, and whether VAT is included.
- Timescale — a start window and expected duration.
- Payment terms — deposit amount and purpose, stage payments, and when the balance is due.
- Guarantee — what is covered, for how long, and by whom.
- Certificates — which will be issued on completion, for regulated work.
- Validity — how long the price stands.
Quote or estimate?
A quote is a firm price for defined work. An estimate is a best guess and can move. Neither is wrong, but you should know which you have been given, and for an estimate you should know what would cause it to change.
Deposits and stage payments
For jobs with significant material costs, a deposit toward materials is normal. Stage payments tied to visible milestones — first fix complete, plastered, second fix complete — protect both sides. Avoid paying for a large proportion of labour up front, and keep a final payment back until snagging is done.
Frequently asked questions
- Should a quote include VAT?
- If the business is VAT registered, the quote should show VAT clearly. If it is not registered, there will be no VAT to add — but the business cannot charge it either.
- Do I need a contract as well?
- For most domestic jobs a detailed written quote you have accepted in writing serves as the contract. For larger projects, a short written agreement covering scope, price, timescale and payment stages is worth the extra ten minutes.
Describe your job properly and the quotes you get back will be far more detailed.
Related on Find A Trade Local
Sources and further reading
This guide is general information for UK readers and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Where a decision depends on your circumstances, speak to a suitably qualified professional.