Contractor Quote Inclusions Checklist

Who this is for

See what each quote really covers. Mark each item included, excluded or unclear for up to three builders' quotes.

Homeowners with more than one quote for the same job who want to compare like with like before choosing, rather than picking the lowest total.

What this helps you track

• Who each quote is from, its date and its quoted total
• Which items each contractor includes, excludes or leaves unclear
• Gaps that could turn a low quote into a higher final bill
• The questions to put to each contractor before deciding
• Why you chose the contractor you did

How to use it

1. Write the project and the contractor name, date and quoted total for quotes A, B and C.
2. Read each quote against the item list and mark I for included, E for excluded or ? for unclear in its column.
3. Add items particular to your job, such as kitchen units or a new consumer unit, as extra rows online or on the back of the printed sheet.
4. Turn every ? and every E you did not expect into a question for that contractor, and ask for the answer in writing.
5. Update the marks when revised quotes come in, then record your decision and the reason in the online notes or on the back of the sheet.
6. Use the online version to fill it in on screen; it saves in your own browser.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The online version keeps what you enter in your own browser and builds the completed PDF on your device.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

Why not just compare the totals?

Two quotes for the same job can cover quite different work. One may include removing waste, making good and decoration while another leaves them out, so the lower total may not be the cheaper job once the gaps are filled.

What counts as unclear?

Anything the quote does not mention, mentions only vaguely, or covers with a provisional sum you cannot pin down. Mark it ? and ask the contractor to say in writing whether it is in the price.

Should the quote show VAT?

Whether VAT or another sales tax applies depends on the contractor and the rules where you are. The checklist simply asks whether the quote makes it clear, so you know whether the total is the amount you will actually pay.

Can I use it for more than three quotes?

Print a second copy for quotes D to F, or narrow the field to your three strongest quotes first. The online version saves in your own browser, so you can keep a copy for each round.