PROJECT ADVICE
What to send for a useful refurbishment quotation
A useful quotation starts with a clear brief. You do not need every finish chosen before contacting a contractor, but it helps to separate what is decided from what still needs investigation.
Prepared by Vayton Construction Ltd · 28 September 2026 · Updated 29 September 2026
1. Describe the outcome, room by room
Start with the address and a short explanation of what you want to change. List each room or area separately. “Refurbish the bathroom” can mean replacing fittings in their current positions or changing the layout, services, walls and floor. Explain which it is, and identify any features that must stay. For commercial premises, say how the space will be used and who else is involved.
2. Send the current information
Include drawings, dimensions and photographs if available. Mark the drawing revision and date so everyone prices the same layout. If there are no drawings, begin with a written brief and say what needs measuring or designing. A photograph can explain a damaged finish, but it cannot confirm the condition behind a wall or under a floor. Those uncertainties may need a site review or a stated allowance.
3. Separate supply from installation
List items you intend to purchase yourself: cabinets, appliances, sanitaryware, tiles, flooring or specialist equipment. Include product references, quantities and expected delivery dates where known. Ask who checks dimensions, unloads deliveries, stores materials and resolves missing components. “Client supplies” should be specific enough for both parties to understand what remains in the contractor’s price.
4. Explain access and timing
State whether the property will be occupied, the permitted working hours and any restrictions on parking, loading, lifts or waste removal. Highlight facilities that must stay available and work assigned to other contractors. Give a preferred start and completion period, distinguishing a flexible preference from a fixed operational deadline.
5. Compare the scope before the total
Ask each contractor to identify inclusions, exclusions, allowances, tax treatment where applicable and payment stages. Check preparation, protection, disposal, making good and final decoration as well as the main installation. A lower total may cover less work. If one quotation leaves an item uncertain, seek clarification before treating the figures as comparable.
Keep changes in one place
When you change a layout or selection, send a dated update and ask whether it affects price or programme. Keep the agreed scope with the quotation. Before work begins, confirm how additional work will be recorded and agreed. This makes later decisions easier to follow.
A short enquiry you can prepare
Write down: project postcode; rooms or areas; work required; drawings available; client-supplied items; occupancy and access; preferred dates; and questions still unresolved. Send what you have and identify the gaps. The first conversation can establish what information is needed next.
Tell us about your project.
Share your postcode, the work you need and your preferred timing.
Send a project enquiry ↗