They WhatsApp “can you quote the bathroom?” You send £4,800. Two weeks later the floor is rotten. They say “but you quoted.” If the paper said quote and listed a like-for-like refit, they have a point. If it said estimate and “subject to opening up,” you do not have to eat the joists.
Everyday UK trade meaning
| Estimate | Quote | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A guided figure | A price for a defined job |
| When it moves | When facts change | When the scope changes |
| Customer hears | About this much | This is the number |
| You should write | Estimate — not a fixed price | Quote — fixed for the scope below |
There is no magic statute that says the title “Quote” always locks you and “Estimate” never does. For consumers, a reasonable price can still be argued if nothing was agreed. For you, the practical rule is: do not call it a quote unless you will stand at that number for that scope.
What to put on the paper
- The word. Estimate or quote in the heading, not both, not “ballpark quote”.
- The scope. What is in. What is out. What you have not seen.
- Validity. How long the number lasts. Materials move.
- How to accept. A reply on WhatsApp can be acceptance. Say what you need: “Reply YES to accept this quote.”
If you are not sure of the hours, it is an estimate or a day rate — not a tight quote. Opening-up, damp, and other trades are classic estimate jobs until you have been on site.
What people miss
Calling it a quote to win the chat. They will remember the word. You will remember the rotten floor.
“Estimate” with no room to move. If you write a single figure and no assumptions, they will treat it as fixed anyway.
Changing the job in the room. Extra sockets and a different tap are a new price, whether the first paper was a quote or an estimate.
This is general information for UK trades, not legal advice. If a job is already in dispute, speak to a solicitor or a trade association.
Related guides
FAQ
- Can they hold me to an estimate?
- If you presented it as a firm figure and they accepted, they may try. Write “estimate — not a fixed price” and list assumptions. This is not legal advice.
- Does a WhatsApp “yes” accept a quote?
- It can. A clear offer plus a clear yes is how a lot of trade work is agreed. Keep the scope in that same thread or on the PDF.
- Should I use quote or estimate on small jobs?
- If you can measure it, quote. If you cannot, estimate or day rate. Do not mix the words to sound cheaper.
- What about VAT?
- Say whether the figure includes VAT. If you are not registered, say so. Do not hide it in the small print after they accept.
