About the template
What this builder quote template covers and why it wins more renovations
Builder quotes are the hardest to fix once accepted, and most losses trace back to scope that was not properly understood at the first site walkthrough. A homeowner choosing between three quotes for a bathroom renovation or a loft conversion picks the builder whose document feels most organised, not the cheapest. Itemised trades, clear materials, named subcontractors, and a payment schedule do more for your conversion rate than shaving 5 percent off the price.
The template below itemises everything you actually do on site. Demolition and waste removal on their own line so skip hire stops eating profit. First-fix plumbing and electrical separated from finishes. Tiles split into labour per square metre and materials. Subcontractor coordination billed as a management fee on top of subbie costs. Provisional sums with clear 'subject to inspection' clauses for the rot, old wiring, or uneven floors you will only find once walls are open. A payment schedule by stage (deposit, slab, roof, practical completion, snag) so the client funds the project as it progresses and you do not bankroll it from your own cashflow.
Use it as a checklist when you quote your next renovation by hand. Or build it in QuoteGenio with your standard trades, subcontractor markups, and payment schedule already set up. Send the quote within 48 hours of the site visit (while the scope is still fresh) and follow up at day 3 and day 7. Two out of three accepted builder quotes get there because someone followed up.
What to include
Every builders quote should have these lines
Use it as a checklist when you build your quote from scratch, or pull the QuoteGenio template that already has them.
Sample
A real builders quote laid out properly
A worked example so you can see what a clean, structured version looks like before you write your own.
Quote sample
Bathroom renovation, 45 sq ft (strip-out and refit)
Bill to
Daniel & Megan Reed
+1 (555) 904 1188
62 Hazelwood Crescent, Austin
From
Reed Brothers Construction
+1 (555) 318 7762
12 Trade Park Avenue, Pflugerville
Demolition, strip-out, debris removal
Plumbing first fix (new hot/cold lines, waste)
Wall and floor tiling labour
Tile adhesive, grout, backer board
Ceramic wall and floor tiles (client spec)
Fixture install (toilet, vanity, shower)
Electrical (2 outlets, light, exhaust fan)
Painting and finishing
Site clean and hand-over
Provisional sum: hidden pipe remedial work
Sample data converted from USD to ZAR at indicative rates. QuoteGenio supports 40+ currencies and your branded business details, banking, and logo flow through automatically.
Use this template
Build your own builders quote in 2 minutes
Your business name, logo, and banking details fill in automatically. Send the branded PDF via WhatsApp in one tap.
Avoid these
Common mistakes on builders quotes
The patterns that quietly lose jobs, get queried at payment time, or leave money on the table.
Mistake: No provisional sums on renovations
Better: Renovation scope is never fully known until walls open. Add one or two provisional sum lines with a clear 'subject to inspection' clause. It pre-empts awkward conversations when rot or old wiring shows up.
Mistake: Quoting materials at today's price with no validity date
Better: Cement, steel, and timber prices move. Put a 30 day validity on every quote and state that material costs beyond that date are subject to re-quote.
Mistake: Fixed-price quoting everything
Better: Fixed-price for new-build and clearly specified scope. Cost-plus or provisional sums for renovation unknowns. State which is which on each line so the client knows what is firm and what is conditional.
Mistake: No payment schedule on big jobs
Better: Deposit, on slab, on roof, on practical completion, on snag sign-off. Builders who do not schedule payments end up funding the client's project from their own cashflow.
Mistake: Forgetting subcontractor markup
Better: If you carry subbies (electrician, plumber, tiler), add a 10 to 15 percent management fee. You are coordinating the programme, carrying the risk, and standing behind their work.
Mistake: Ignoring rubble removal and skip costs
Better: A 4 cubic metre skip plus labour to fill it is real money. Add a 'site clearance' line on every job, even small ones. Otherwise your profit goes out the back of a truck.
FAQ
Builders quote template questions
Everything builders ask before they switch to a structured quote.
A clear scope, itemised lines per trade, materials by quantity and trade, subcontractors with management fee, plant and skip hire, provisional sums for hidden work, a payment schedule, a quote validity period, and your banking details. The QuoteGenio template carries all of these by default.
30 days for most renovations and small projects. 14 days if material prices are volatile. 60 to 90 days for new builds with long lead times, but with a clause that material costs are subject to re-quote at order date if the project starts beyond 60 days from acceptance.
Fixed-price the known scope (demolition, first fix, tiling labour, fixtures). Cost-plus or provisional sums for unknowns (rot in joists, redundant pipework, hidden structural work). State on each line whether it is firm or conditional so the client understands what is set in stone.
A provisional sum is a placeholder figure for work that cannot be priced until conditions are exposed (e.g. rotten joists discovered after the floor comes up). State the rate ('billed on actual metres at $ 95 per metre of joist replacement') so the variation is automatic when the scope is confirmed.
Typical residential: 10 to 20 percent deposit, 25 percent on slab or framing, 25 percent on roof or watertight, 25 percent on practical completion, balance less retention on snag sign-off. Adjust to suit the project. State the schedule in the quote terms so the client accepts it in writing.
On commercial work yes, typically 5 to 10 percent held until snag sign-off (often 90 days post-PC). On residential, retention is less standard but a 5 percent snag retention is reasonable on bigger jobs. State the percentage and release condition on the quote.
Yes. Most clients open a PDF link from WhatsApp faster than they open an email attachment. QuoteGenio generates the branded PDF and shares the link via WhatsApp in one tap. The client can review the breakdown, accept inline, or request changes.
Yes. The template structure is free to use. The QuoteGenio app builds the same quote in minutes with your standard trades, subbie markup, and payment schedule already set up. The free plan covers 5 quotes a month with no credit card.
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From the blog
Guides on writing better builders quotes
Hand-picked posts that go deeper on the topics covered in this template.
How to Write a Quote for a Building or Renovation Job
Building and renovation quotes are more complex than most. Here's how to structure them so clients understand what they're getting, and disputes are avoided.
How to Price Materials Correctly on Every Quote
Materials are where most quotes leak profit. Here is how to mark them up properly, handle price changes, and stop losing money to supplier increases.
How to Quote a Loft Conversion: Steels, Building Control, and Party Wall
Loft conversions are structural-heavy, building-control-heavy, and finishing-heavy. Here is how to quote dormer, hip-to-gable, and mansard work without losing margin to hidden steel and party-wall costs.
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