Home improvement contracts Estimates and quotations

Getting estimates on paper may sound straightforward but is far from easy

When trying to organise your budget, it is important to have quotes from all the professionals and companies involved, such as architects, surveyors, builders and package companies (such as loft converters and kitchen fitters). With the growth of buy-to-let and a robust house-building industry, finding someone qualified to do the work you require may take some time. So planning when to get the right people in will have a big impact on the success of your home improvement project.

Getting estimates on paper from a tradesman may sound straightforward, but actually it is far from easy. You have to be persistent, or even draw up the estimate yourself and then ask the tradesman to sign it with you

Smaller projects

If you want quotes for a small job, such as fitting a boiler or adding electrics, it’s not too difficult to create your own estimate. You need to ask for:

• the cost of materials – and the type used, such as the boiler
• likely time – in hours/days, and
• a fixed (total) cost or a daily cost for the work.

Larger projects

If the work is for a big job, such as an extension, conservatory or loft conversion, the trick with estimates and quotations is to try to design them in such a way that you can compare like with like. Everyone has their own way of pricing a job – and rarely will a builder price a job in great detail. On the other hand, some companies have specialist software that supplies detailed quotes.

There are two main elements.

Materials

You need to know the cost of the major materials - for example:

• bricks, concrete, drainage, timber
• windows, doors, ironmongery, locks
• kitchen units, worktops, sink, appliances, tiles
• bathroom suite, shower, tiles
• boiler, thermostat, pipe work, ventilation, system flush.

Labour

You also need to know how much the labour will cost. This depends on:

• how many people will be needed
• what contractors or subcontractors will be used
• how many days the work will take
• how much each worker costs per day
• what contingency is recommended for the work. 

You should also write in a clause stating that if the costs are likely to increase for any reason, the contractor must agree this with you before spending the money on your behalf.