Writing out a quote for painting work

[newhandyman]

I normally only do smallish jobs and until now people have always been happy with a text/phone (oral quote) call for the job. But this lady wants a quote on an email. I have my hotmail address which is my name @hotmail but should I get a more professional sounding domain like TJG Construction or something? I do handyman work so cover three areas- painting, landscaping and carpentry so construction could cover all three I guess.

How do you write out the quote? I guess i need her address and last name, i guess in the top left side

I was going to write-

Dear Ms Smith,

This is the quote for painting the outside of your house. I will be giving the masonry two coats and paint all the sills with two coats. Any screws or nails will be removed and the holes filled prior to painting. My price for this work is £1,100 for labour. If the work takes considerably less time than expected then I might be able to reduce the cost. And can negotiate this at a later date. The job may take longer than on a flat surface because the render has a jaggid surface which may need going over with a brush.

Please don't hesitate to contact me.

Burt Smith

Tel 0000000000

 

[chris1982]

Who supplies what? When is payment due? What if two coats won't cover well?

 

[Notch7]

I hope that isnt your actual mobile no youve posted on an open forum!

Just your normal email address is fine. At the bottom though below your name, you could add your company, it could just be Bert Smith decorating services.

Most email clients allow some editing, a bit like when writing on this forum.

Eg:

Mrs Customer

Quote number: Q1458
Date:

Scope of works

Preparation:
Sand back

Decoration:
1. Paint 8no cills, etc etc

2. Paint rendered house walls, front, rear, side, dormer, etc

Excludes ( any areas you are not painting)

Material
All paint to be supplied by customer. (To agreed specification and quantities).
If coverage rate is less than expected, additional paint may be required at customers expense.

Sundries, such as sandpaper, filler etc provided by me.

Payment terms
25% with order
75% due on day of practical completion

I wouldnt include in any lump sum price an offer to reduce the price if the job is finished sooner. The price is the price. You can specify the number of paint coats you will apply abd give an extra over price for additiinal coats if needed. If you offer a potential reduction, you are turning your job into a day rate, the custoner could start saying, well you only did 6 1/2 hours Tues etc etc.

A fixed price take away the stress on both sides. Your customer can accept the price if they think its fairand they dont need to worry about the time it takes.

 

[Bosswhite]

Remember a quote is a fixed price,an estimate is an approximate price.

You could finish off a Quote with the letters "E&OE"(Errors and omissions excepted) or state that any unforeseen problems will be discussed with the property owner as work progresses

 

[newhandyman]

I hope that isnt your actual mobile no youve posted on an open forum!

Just your normal email address is fine. At the bottom though below your name, you could add your company, it could just be Bert Smith decorating services.

Most email clients allow some editing, a bit like when writing on this forum.

Eg:

Mrs Customer

Quote number: Q1458
Date:

Scope of works

Preparation:
Sand back

Decoration:
1. Paint 8no cills, etc etc

2. Paint rendered house walls, front, rear, side, dormer, etc

Excludes ( any areas you are not painting)

Material
All paint to be supplied by customer. (To agreed specification and quantities).
If coverage rate is less than expected, additional paint may be required at customers expense.

Sundries, such as sandpaper, filler etc provided by me.

Payment terms
25% with order
75% due on day of practical completion

I wouldnt include in any lump sum price an offer to reduce the price if the job is finished sooner. The price is the price. You can specify the number of paint coats you will apply abd give an extra over price for additiinal coats if needed. If you offer a potential reduction, you are turning your job into a day rate, the custoner could start saying, well you only did 6 1/2 hours Tues etc etc.

A fixed price take away the stress on both sides. Your customer can accept the price if they think its fairand they dont need to worry about the time it takes.

Well I mentioned it now so a lesson for next time I guess, but I will say a reduction only if it takes five days or less. I believe it will take longer.
Yeah probably shouldn't have mentioned I would reduce the price just done it if the job took significantly less time than thought.

She also wants two references and my public liability insurance. I don't like references, I think theyre a bad idea. Half the people I work for are round the bend and very old and god knows what could be said. I called one and it was like " You did a good job on my bungalow but left paint on the broom handle" It's not a house on a scaffold but you did the bungalow ok" Personally, I am not happy with this- old dears could put doubt into a customer's head.

I sent her a copy of public liability. The only thing is it says covered for painting, joinery, window cleaning and gardening so she might think I am just an handyman rather than specialised decorator, which I am. Oh well I can't change that. I gave her a flyer with decorator on

 

[motorbiking]

You could finish off a Quote with the letters "E&OE"(Errors and omissions excepted)

This has no meaning, in a consumer contract, due to the unfair terms in consumer contracts legislation.

Better to go with your second option.

Notch' has the right idea. You don't need a fancy domain name, just your name, address etc.

 

[Notch7]

alf the people I work for are round the bend and very old and god knows what could be said. I called one and it was like " You did a good job on my bungalow but left paint on the broom handle" It's not a house on a scaffold but you did the bungalow ok" Personally, I am not happy with this- old dears could put doubt into a customer's head.

Generally customer have to be really pee-d off to not give a good reference. If you are polite and professional, I doubt you have anything to worry about. If you have one locally to the job -get them to go round and see it.

I cant see the insurance putting off a customer -lots of pro decorators do some other work -you can say its for fill in work

 

[motorbiking]

Or just take pictures of your work as you go and show it.

 

[newhandyman]

I quoted £1100. She wants to lower the scaffold for painting for a cost of £250 and wants me to pay half. SO I would working for £975. I asked if it was necessary and that she should ask the scaffolders if they thought it necessary and she replied- their opinion is irrelevant. She wants me to sign a H and E form after inspecting the scaffold. She is becoming a pain. I have dealt with enough idiots in my short limited experience to start to feel put off. But the painting must be done in early July so think she'll have a hard time getting anyone else. I will say thanks for concern in lowering scaffold but my quote of £1100 still stands as I think it's a reasonable price unless I finish the job in five days or less then it will be reduced. I think it will take two weeks. And will also state that due to other work commitments can only do four days a week from Monday to Saturday. If she's still happy for me to do the job on those terms then I am happy to sign her forms.

Also, when I first planned to go round for a quote they said not tonight I am watching the football and their fascia boards being taken down are asbestolux. I pointed this out not her. She just kept saying they were not a dangerous type of asbestos. She obviously wouldnt have mentioned it if I hadn't.

 

[motorbiking]

Are you comfortable you know how to manage the asbestos?

When striking a deal there are 3 components - price, terms, timescales.. She seems to want to dictate all 3. I think you might be better off agreeing a day rate for time and materials.

 

[HERTS P&D]

Put SSS - (Subject to Site Survey) on the bottom of the quote and that way if you find and extra problems while working then the price and can be re-quoted.

Andy

 

[opps]

When you say "lowering scaffolding" do you mean "ordering scaffolding"?

The scaffolding will enable you to work much faster (and more safely). I get the impression that you don't proof read your posts- I couldn't follow the bit about the fascia boards. Is she hiring someone else to replace them (someone who has insisted upon scaffolding- hence her willingness to pay half).

If you do give a discount at the end then don't forget to charge her for your share of the scaffolding, otherwise you are paying for the privilege of earning less.

 

[opps]

Put SSS - (Subject to Site Survey) on the bottom of the quote and that way if you find and extra problems while working then the price and can be re-quoted.

Andy

I consider myself to be a good tradesman but an awful businessman. I often massively underquote exterior work. I have no idea how bad the wood/masonry is until I am well underway.

My last exterior, I knew that I needed stitch the masonry mullions and sills but hadn't anticipated that the old masonry paint would "snap" off so much so that I had to grind it all off and then back fill everything. I lost quite a bit on a job that initially looked like a nice little earner. The client wants me back soon to do the back. I need to explain that I will providing an estimate, or that I can provide a quote to cover my bottom that is prohibitively expensive.

Fortunately, regular customers don't ask me for quotes, they know that I will simply put things right as I come across them and leave a finish that exceeds their expectations.

 

[newhandyman]

Are you comfortable you know how to manage the asbestos?

When striking a deal there are 3 components - price, terms, timescales.. She seems to want to dictate all 3. I think you might be better off agreeing a day rate for time and materials.

Not too worried if I lose this job, if she's this much of a pain in the arse now what's she going to be like on the job. I think I will propse a day rate of £130 a day (labour only) and can only work four days a week from Monday to Saturday due to other commitments. I will tell her she's welcome to look elsewhere. She's a teacher which could explain why she's a pain in the arse. And explain why I am signing a H and S form. Teachers in my opinion like NHS workers don't live in the same world as everyone else.

Regarding the asbestos. Apparently it's asbestos cement- the stuff they use in soffit and fascias. The fascia people are taking it away. I will ask her to sweep down the boards then I will hose them down.

 

[newhandyman]

When you say "lowering scaffolding" do you mean "ordering scaffolding"?

The scaffolding will enable you to work much faster (and more safely). I get the impression that you don't proof read your posts- I couldn't follow the bit about the fascia boards. Is she hiring someone else to replace them (someone who has insisted upon scaffolding- hence her willingness to pay half).

If you do give a discount at the end then don't forget to charge her for your share of the scaffolding, otherwise you are paying for the privilege of earning less.

The scoffold is set at a height for fascia workers to work not for painters. She thinks it should be lowered for me. I am just painting, someone before is replacing fascia boards