You quoted in March. They reply in July: “We’ll take it.” Fuel is up, the tile batch is gone, and you are booked. Without a validity line, they think the number is still the deal.
Recommended default
| Job | Validity |
|---|---|
| Labour-led, stock you already know | 30 days |
| Materials-heavy (copper, specialist tiles, boilers) | 14 days |
| Long lead kit you have to order | 14 days, or “price on confirmation” |
| Day rate for opening up | Until the start date you wrote |
Shorter is kinder than a fight. You can always reissue. You cannot easily explain why last quarter’s merchant ticket still applies.
How to write it
This quote is valid for 30 days from 23 March 2026. After that, labour and materials may be requoted. Materials remain subject to merchant availability.
Put it near the total, not in a blob of terms nobody reads. If they accept on day 31, send a one-line update — do not start the job on a dead number.
What people miss
No date at all. Then the quote is as old as their memory. Always a date.
Ninety days to look “easy”. That is a long time to hold copper and a diary slot. You are giving them a free option on your year.
Validity on labour only. If tiles can move, say so. A 30-day labour figure with open-ended materials is two different deals.
Starting after expiry “as a favour”. Reissue. Favours become the price they tell the neighbour.
Related guides
FAQ
- Can they accept after the date if I still want the job?
- Yes — by a new quote or a written “still honoured until…”. Do not nod in the hallway.
- What if materials drop?
- You can pass it on. You are not obliged to. Validity protects you from rises more than it locks you into falls.
- Does 30 days start when I send it or when they read it?
- When you send it. Put that date on the PDF. WhatsApp “seen” is not a clock you control.
- Should estimates have a validity too?
- Yes. An old estimate is still a number they will screenshot.
