A single
lump sum.
Nothing to compare against a rival quote, nothing to defend when the client asks why, and nothing to price a variation against when the job changes. The breakdown protects you more than it protects them.
A builder's quote is a fixed offer to carry out a defined scope of works for a stated price — which makes it different from an estimate, and generally makes it part of the contract once accepted. A domestic quote should contain nine things: the parties, a reference and date, a description of the works, measured and sectioned lines, the tender sum with VAT stated, inclusions, exclusions, assumptions, and the validity and payment terms.
An estimate is your best view of likely cost, and it can move as the job becomes clearer. A quote is a fixed offer: this scope, this price. Once a client accepts it, it generally forms part of the contract between you, which means the scope you describe and the exclusions you name are doing legal work. That is not a reason to avoid quoting — it is the reason to be precise about what is and is not in.
Our free construction quote template has all nine already laid out, adds up by itself, and offers 175 standard task descriptions to pick from — or see a real priced extension quote to see what it looks like finished.
Nothing to compare against a rival quote, nothing to defend when the client asks why, and nothing to price a variation against when the job changes. The breakdown protects you more than it protects them.
What is not written down is assumed to be included. Party wall awards, Building Regulations fees, unforeseen ground conditions — each one unstated is an argument waiting for the week you find it.
Most domestic clients expect something within a week or two of the visit. Quoting happens in the evenings after a full day on site, so it slips — and the builder who replies first with a proper document often wins on that alone.
A builder's quote is a fixed offer to carry out a defined scope of works for a stated price. That makes it different from an estimate, which is an opinion of likely cost and can move. Once a client accepts a quote it generally forms part of the contract between you, so the scope it describes and the exclusions it names are doing real legal work, not decoration.
Your details and the client's, the property, a reference and date, and a description of the works. Then sectioned lines each carrying a quantity, a unit and a rate, subtotalling to a tender sum with the VAT position stated. Then what is included, what is excluded and why, what you have assumed, how long the price holds, and when payment is due. A single lump sum with no breakdown gives the client nothing to compare and gives you nothing to defend when the job changes.
Most domestic clients expect something within a week or two of the site visit. Priced by hand from a full drawing set, an extension typically takes one to three evenings once the take-off is done — which is why quotes slip when site work is busy. Being the one who replies quickly with a properly itemised document is a genuine competitive advantage in domestic work.
There isn't a single national rate — labour and material rates vary by region, trade and the standard of the work, and a rate is only meaningful against a defined quantity and specification. Anchor yours to regional UK rates for your area, keep your own rates for the things you know better than anyone, and make the build-up visible in the quote so a client can see what they are paying for rather than guessing.
Yes, and it is legal as long as it is agreed in advance — a client cannot be charged for something they did not know was chargeable. In practice most UK builders quote free for domestic work and treat it as a cost of sale. Charging is more common where the pricing work itself is a substantial deliverable the client keeps.
Send the drawings and get a measured, sectioned quote back under your own name. Your first three quotes are free.