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Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Quote vs estimate for roofing/building works
On 12/08/2013 00:52, wrote:
Hi,
we need to have some roofing/building work done. (repair rather than new build).
Most of them seem to advertise ‘free estimates’. Being the cynical sort I suspect this is so they can then charge more than the estimate rather than giving a quote.
However one chap said that (i) a quote would be deliberately high to allow for contingencies, so we might end up paying more by having a quote rather than an estimate and
(ii) if it was discovered that extra work needs doing, a firm that has given a quote may just bodge it/ cover it up as they are working to a fixed price, rather than bringing attention to any extra work and informing us of the cost before proceeding further (although if that happened would we really be in a position to say no to the extra).
(he subsequently gave a written estimate rather than a quote).
Part of me thinks he has a point, but on the other hand is this just part of his sales spiel ?
What does the collective wisdom of the newsgroup think ?
Is it better to request a quote or an estimate ? (thinking of other firms rather than just this one)
Thanks.
P.S. I am posting this to uk.d-i-y and uk.legal. If anybody thinks a different group is more appropriate please let me know.
I'm not sure that there's a standard definition of either term. Your
question implies that you are assuming definitions along the lines of:
Estimate: A rough guide as to what it might cost, but the actual cost
could be different by quite a margin
Quote: A fixed price quotation for doing the necessary work, which will
not vary whatever happens
In reality, life isn't quite as simple as that. What you need is for the
contractor to specify his current understanding of the problem and to
give a fixed price for fixing it - and also to spell out any caveats
which could result in the price increasing when he actually comes to do it.
--
Cheers,
Roger
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