Renovation quote
Renovation quote example for a laundry
A renovation quote should price each trade, state any allowances for things the owner still has to choose, and say what contract follows. This example from a Leichhardt builder prices a full laundry renovation at $14,780 including GST, with tiles to an allowance, a 10% deposit, and a note that a written contract follows before work starts.
The quote, page by page
Every page as the client sees it and as it prints, pricing table included.
The pricing, line by line
- Strip out and disposal
- 1 × $1,650.00
- Waterproofing
- 1 × $1,250.00
- Plumbing
- 1 × $2,400.00
- Electrical
- 1 × $980.00
- Tiling
- 1 × $3,600.00
- Cabinetry
- 1 × $4,900.00
- Pull out hamper (optional)
- 1 × $420.00
- Heated towel rail (optional)
- 1 × $690.00
- Tax
- $1,343.63
- Total
- $14,780.00
- Deposit due on acceptance
- $1,478.00
Section by section
- Title and quote details
- Reference, date, a 30 day validity and the owners, under a letterhead with the builder's licence number.
- Scope
- The 5 square metre laundry, every trade and three weeks out of use, four inclusions, and a note on the contract that follows.
- Investment
- Six trade lines including GST, with a pull out hamper and a heated towel rail as options.
- Terms
- A 10% deposit and two progress payments, the tile allowance, hidden problems and validity.
- Next steps and acceptance
- Accept online with a signature, then the deposit invoice and the contract.
Why a renovation quote is not the contract
A quote tells the owner what the job costs and lets them say yes. For residential building work, the law usually wants more than that. In New South Wales, work over $5,000 needs a written contract, work under $20,000 can use a small jobs contract, and larger jobs need a fuller contract with a prescribed checklist and, in most cases, home building compensation cover before a deposit is taken. This quote is for a job under $20,000, takes a 10% deposit, the most allowed for residential work in the state, and says in a note that the contract follows before any work starts. Other states have their own thresholds, so check yours before copying the note.
How the price adds up
The six trades add to $14,780 including GST: strip out $1,650, waterproofing $1,250, plumbing $2,400, electrical $980, tiling $3,600 and cabinetry $4,900. The hamper adds $420 and the heated towel rail $690; with both the total is $15,890, still under the $20,000 line. The 10% deposit, $1,478, is invoiced when the owners accept, with a card pay link. The balance is paid in two parts after tiling and on completion, which clause 1 states, so payments follow work the owners can see.
How to adapt this quote
Price by trade and put your licence number in the letterhead. Use allowances for anything the owner has not chosen yet, such as tiles, tapware or benchtops, and say what happens if they choose above it. Name the certificates the owner will receive, such as waterproofing. Keep a hidden problems clause, since every strip out finds something. Check your state's rules on written contracts, deposits and insurance before you quote, and say in the quote what paperwork follows, so the owner is not surprised by a second document.
What makes this quote work
Each trade is a line
Strip out, waterproofing, plumbing, electrical, tiling and cabinetry are six lines from $980 to $4,900. The owners can see that cabinetry and tiling are most of the cost, and compare another builder's quote trade by trade.
Undecided choices have an allowance
Tiles are priced to a $60 a square metre allowance, and clause 2 adds the difference if the owners choose dearer tiles. Allowances are how a quote stays fixed while the client is still choosing finishes.
It says what paperwork follows
The note says residential building work over $5,000 in New South Wales needs a written contract, that a small jobs contract follows, and that no work starts until it is signed. The deposit stays at 10%, within the state's limit for residential work.
Questions people ask
What should a renovation quote include?
The scope and area, each trade with its price, allowances for items still to be chosen, certificates the owner will receive, how long the room is out of use, optional extras, GST, the deposit and progress payments, what happens with hidden problems, validity and what contract follows. This example covers each on three A4 pages.
How much does a laundry renovation cost?
It depends on size, finishes and how much plumbing moves. This example quotes $14,780 including GST for a 5 square metre laundry with waterproofing, relocated taps, two new power points, tiling to a $60 allowance and built in cabinetry with a stone benchtop.
How much deposit can a builder take in NSW?
For residential building work in New South Wales the deposit is capped at 10% of the contract price, and on jobs that need home building compensation cover the builder cannot take a deposit until the cover is in place. This quote asks for 10% on a job under $20,000.
Do I need a contract for a small renovation?
In New South Wales residential building work over $5,000 needs a written contract, and work under $20,000 can use a small jobs contract. This quote says a small jobs contract follows acceptance and no work starts until it is signed. Other states set their own thresholds.
What is a tile allowance in a renovation quote?
An amount per square metre included for tiles the owner has not chosen yet. This quote allows $60 a square metre, and clause 2 adds the difference to the final invoice if the owners choose more expensive tiles. It keeps the quote fixed while the finishes are still being picked.
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