How to ask a tradesperson for a quote

A quote is only as good as the information behind it. Give a tradesperson a vague description and you'll get a vague price — usually higher, to cover the unknowns. Spend five minutes describing the job properly and you'll get figures you can actually compare.

What to put in your request

The more of these you include, the more accurate and comparable the quotes you'll get back:

• The job itself — "replace a leaking mixer tap in the kitchen", not just "plumbing".
• Photos and measurements — a couple of clear photos and rough dimensions answer most of a tradesperson's questions before they ask.
• Access and the property — flat or house, which floor, parking, and anything that makes the job harder to reach.
• Timing — is it urgent, flexible, or tied to a date? This affects both price and availability.
• Your budget — a rough figure isn't weakness, it helps them suggest options that fit.

Quote vs estimate — know the difference

A quote is a fixed price for clearly defined work. An estimate is an educated guess that can change. For a well-defined job, ask for a quote. For something open-ended (where hidden problems might appear once work starts), expect an estimate — and ask what would make the price go up.

Get three, and compare fairly

Three quotes is the sweet spot. One gives you nothing to judge against; ten is a chore. When you compare, check they cover the same scope — materials, labour, VAT, and waste removal. The cheapest number isn't the cheapest job if it leaves things out. Be wary of any price that's dramatically lower than the others; it often means something's missing or will be added later.

A message template you can copy

Paste this into your first message and fill in the blanks:

• "Hi — I'm after a quote for [the job, e.g. re-tiling a 2m x 2.5m bathroom floor]."
• "It's a [house/flat], [which floor], in [your town / first part of postcode]."
• "I've attached photos and measurements."
• "I'd like it done [timeframe], and I'm working to roughly [budget]."
• "Could you let me know your price, what's included, and when you could start?"

Once you've shortlisted someone, read how to hire a tradesperson you can trust before you commit.