Guide
What a plumbing quote should include
A quote you can compare names the parts, the labour, the exclusions and the paperwork. A number in a text message is a price, not a quote.
Scope, in enough detail to compare
The quote should describe what is being done in terms you can check afterwards: which appliances, which positions, what is being removed, what is being left. For a boiler, the model and the output in kilowatts. For a bathroom, the sanitaryware by name. For a heating system, the number of radiators and their sizes.
Two quotes are only comparable if they cover the same work, and the commonest reason a cheap quote turns out expensive is that it quietly excluded something the other one included.
Labour, materials and the split
You do not need a line by line breakdown of every fitting, but the split between labour and materials should be visible, and any major item should be named. On a boiler installation, that means the boiler, the filter, the controls and the flue kit.
If you are supplying materials yourself, the quote should say what the labour figure assumes about them, and who is responsible if a customer supplied part is faulty.
Exclusions, which is where the disputes live
The four that appear most often as unexpected extras: making good after chasing walls or lifting floors, replacing valves and fittings found seized on the day, disposal of the old appliance or suite, and any second trade the work needs. A good quote names them explicitly rather than staying silent.
A fixed price quote should also say what happens if the work turns out to be different from what was assumed, and at what point the plumber stops and telephones you.
Timing, payment and paperwork
Start date, expected duration, and how long services will be off. Payment terms, and any deposit, which for a job with materials to buy is reasonable and should be proportionate to them. Staged payments on longer jobs should be tied to visible milestones rather than to dates.
And the certificates: Gas Safe notification, G3 for an unvented cylinder, building control notification, warranty registration, commissioning records. The quote should say which apply and when they arrive.
What a quote is, legally
A quote is an offer at a fixed price, and once you accept it, it binds. An estimate is an informed guess and can change, though a large increase on an estimate is challengeable if it was not flagged as it arose.
Get whichever it is in writing, with the word used clearly. Under the Consumer Rights Act the work must be carried out with reasonable care and skill, and for contracts agreed at your home you generally have fourteen days to cancel, which is worth knowing before signing on a doorstep.
Common questions
Should a quote be in writing?
Always, for anything beyond a call-out. Email is fine. It is the document that decides what was agreed if the job goes wrong.
Is a quote binding?
A quote is a fixed price offer and binds once accepted. An estimate is not, though it should not change substantially without notice.
How much deposit is normal?
Enough to cover materials being bought in, typically 10% to 30% on a larger job. A deposit approaching half the total before any work starts is not normal.