ProtectHOMEOWNER GUIDE
What a written building quote should include
A practical checklist for making scope, price and responsibilities clear.
Identify the parties and the work
Check the contracting business name, contact details, job address, quotation date and validity period. Ask whether the figure is a quotation or estimate, and which drawings or schedules form part of it. A label alone does not resolve unclear terms.
Make the price understandable
Record the total, VAT position, inclusions, exclusions and any allowances. Ask what must be selected or surveyed before an allowance becomes a fixed figure. Agree how changes will be priced and approved.
Record the working arrangements
Include expected dates, access, waste removal, making good, payments and completion documents. Ask for the trader’s terms and any applicable cancellation information. This checklist helps preparation; it is not a statement that every item is legally required on every quotation.
Reviewed 4 October 2026 · ProtectMyQuote editorial guidance
Put the questions into practice
Our report organises questions for your type of job. Our agreement helps you record what is accepted. See the sample documents before deciding.
Make the next step a clearer one.
Ask the right questions. Put the answers in writing.