What a Proper Quote Itemises
A quote with one number on it tells you almost nothing. A quote with everything broken down tells you the whole story, and that's the difference between a number you can trust and one you're just hoping is right.
Here's exactly what should be sitting inside a proper renovation quote, trade by trade.
Every trade listed separately
Plumbing, tiling, waterproofing, electrical, carpentry. Each one should appear as its own line, not lumped into a single "supply and install bathroom" figure. If you can't see where the money goes trade by trade, you can't tell what you're actually paying for.
Clear inclusions and exclusions
What's covered, and just as importantly, what isn't. A quote that doesn't say what's excluded is leaving you to find out the hard way, usually partway through the job.
Optional extras priced on their own
Things like underfloor heating or upgraded tapware should sit as separate line items, not buried into the base price. That way you can add them, drop them, or scale back to your budget without the whole quote falling apart.
Realistic allowances
If an allowance for tiles or fixtures looks suspiciously low, it probably is. A number that low isn't a saving, it's a gap you'll be asked to fill once you've picked something you actually like.
Timeframes written down
How long the job will take, and when each stage happens. Not a vague estimate given over the phone, but something written into the quote itself.
Payment terms, in full
When payments happen, what triggers them, and what the deposit arrangement actually is. This is one of the most important lines in any quote, and one of the most commonly left vague.
Why this level of detail matters
Two quotes that look similar on the surface can hide very different scopes underneath. The only way to compare them fairly is to check each one against this list, line by line.
A builder who's confident in their own pricing has no reason to keep any of this vague. If a quote is missing more than one or two of these, ask why before you sign anything.
What ours looks like
Every quote we write covers all six of these, laid out in plain English, so you know exactly what you're paying for before you commit to anything.
If you've got a quote sitting in front of you and you're not sure it covers what it should, send it through and we'll walk you through it.
