A building quote should explain the work being priced, the assumptions behind that price and what happens when something changes. It does not need to list every screw, but it should give you a clear understanding of what you are buying.
The quotation may form part of a wider building contract. Read the documents together and resolve contradictions before signing. A detailed price can still leave uncertainty if the drawings, exclusions and contract describe different things.
The correct project and contracting details
Check the property address, contractor's legal name, contact information and date of the quotation. The document should identify the work and the information used to prepare the price.
Look for a drawing list with revision references. If structural calculations or a specification are included, they should be identifiable too. “As discussed” is difficult to rely on when several conversations and design versions have taken place.
The quote should also state how long the offer remains open and any conditions attached to it. If the proposed start date falls much later, ask whether the price remains valid and how any permitted adjustment would be handled.
A scope with clear boundaries
The scope should describe the major construction elements and the intended level of completion. For an extension, that may include site setup, demolition, foundations, structure, roof, external openings, insulation, services and finishes.
It should distinguish the new work from alterations to the existing house. If a wall is removed, what happens to the floor, ceiling, electrics and decoration around it? If materials pass through the hallway, what protection and reinstatement are included?
Ask for plain descriptions where wording is vague. “Make good” should identify the affected area and finish. “Install kitchen” should explain whether units, appliances, worktops and service connections are included or supplied separately.
A usable specification
A specification turns an idea into something that can be priced and checked. Depending on the element, it may identify a product, material, performance requirement, quantity or allowance.
Glazing should be more clearly defined than “new doors”. Flooring should state whether the price covers preparation, supply and fitting. Electrical work should identify the agreed provision or refer to an appropriate layout and schedule.
Not every product has to be selected before an initial estimate. But before committing, understand which choices remain open and whether the allowance reflects the quality you expect. Ask for a selection deadline where late decisions could affect ordering or installation.
Explicit exclusions and homeowner purchases
An exclusions section is useful when it is specific. It tells you what must be arranged elsewhere and prevents you from assuming that every necessary item sits in the contract sum.
Common areas to clarify include design fees, statutory charges, party wall services, utility-company work, kitchen supply, specialist fittings, landscaping and window coverings. Their treatment varies by project; none should be assumed included or excluded automatically.
For items you supply, establish responsibility for measurements, suitability, delivery, storage, damage and installation. A product bought directly can still require coordination with several trades. Confirm who handles a missing component or a delivery that arrives after the planned fitting date.
Price, allowances and VAT
The quotation should separate the agreed price from provisional sums and other adjustable allowances. It should explain the basis on which those amounts become final.
Check whether VAT is included, excluded or not applicable to a particular supplier's charge. If different treatments apply, the document should make that clear. Your household budget needs the amount you will actually pay.
Ask how omissions are credited and how additional work is priced. A quotation becomes much more useful when you can see both the starting total and the mechanism for managing changes fairly.
Payment stages that you can understand
The payment schedule should show what each payment relates to, when it becomes due and how progress is established. Discuss deposits and any advance procurement separately from payments for completed work.
If money is required for bespoke products, ask how the order is documented and what protections or ownership arrangements the contract provides. Do not assume all advance payments are identical in purpose or risk.
Make sure the schedule fits your funding arrangements. A technically affordable project can still create difficulties if funds are unavailable when an agreed stage is reached. Resolve that before work starts, rather than using delayed payment as an informal financing plan.
Programme, decisions and handover
Request a proposed duration or programme, together with the assumptions affecting it. Approvals, selections, access and delivery dates may all influence the start and completion arrangements.
Agree a process for changes that records description, cost and timing. Identify who may approve them. A casual conversation on site should not become the only record of an expensive alteration.
The documentation should also address completion, snagging, relevant certificates, warranties and operating information. Check how outstanding items are recorded and when they will be resolved. Understand the contract's provisions for defects and final payment rather than relying on a general reassurance that everything is covered.
Before you accept
Read the quote slowly against your plans and brief. Mark anything you cannot explain to someone else. Ask for those points to be clarified in writing and make sure the final documents reflect the answer.
Explore Hutch's approach to project delivery, or contact us to discuss the scope of your extension, loft conversion or renovation.
Every home is different. Tell us what you want to change and we’ll help you work out where to start.
Tell us about your project