The cost of your bathroom and kitchen renovation is usually the deciding factor in when/if you start the work, so we don't take this step lightly. The way in which we quote for the time and cost of your bathroom, kitchen or tiling installation is pretty structured from the start;
Usually, our first contact with you is on the phone. Most clients come to us after we have worked for someone they know or their bathroom/kitchen supplier has recommended us. Our standard questions are:
Where did you get our number from?
Where is the job?
What is the job?
Will other work be happening at the same time?
What is your expected installation date?
Most of the time all of these questions can be answered but it’s not an issue if not. If you are coming to us before you have even looked at any products or design, we can work with that too.
We then make an appointment to come and see the site.
Although we used to give estimates for work (as opposed to a quote) we have found, with the way we work, a quote works better for the customer. We will never go ahead with extra work without speaking with the client first and we always try to reduce the guesswork by taking extra time to survey and quantify the materials and timings before we provide the initial costings.
NOTE: We usually book 6 months in advance, so costing materials can be tricky as there may be price increases which we can’t foresee.
The details in the quote make it easy to compare to other quotes and also easy for the client to see exactly what we expect to do.
TIP: If it’s not listed on the quote, we don’t know you want us to do it so ALWAYS CHECK THE LIST!
We have three different types of quote and they are broken down into the following sections;
BATHROOM:
Rip out and prep
1st fix plumbing
Tiling
Electrical
2nd fix plumbing
Waste removal
Supply of fittings
JUST TILING:
Preparation
Tiling
Waste removal
Supply of fitting products and tiles
NOTE: when supplying your own tiles, remember to include fitting and finishing products.
KITCHEN:
Rip out
Preparation
Electrical
Dry fit to templating
2nd fix appliances
Only once the quote is produced will we have a clear idea of how long the project will take. Usually, we have already discussed start dates etc. but be aware that any date discussed isn’t guaranteed until you’ve agreed on the job and confirmed the start date with us. Taking your time with the quote will, most likely, mean your estimated start date is pushed back.
NOTE: Unless we have discussed supplying the fittings and you can see that on the quote, we have costed for for LABOUR ONLY.
Quotes, estimates and invoices…what’s the difference?
An estimate – this is, by definition, an estimated guess.
A quote – this is fixed and all agreed before any work starts. Any extra work which comes up throughout the project should be agreed before it goes ahead.
The invoice – this is the request for payment and relates directly to the quote. Any differences from the quote will be clear on the invoice.
We use quotes. We have found that, especially with refurbs, we can’t predict exactly what we are dealing with until we have taken the existing furniture etc. out. This means, if we do come across something unexpected, we will always have a conversation about the best/most cost effective way to deal with it.
So what do we want from you?
Our first job is to work out what type of client you are. We can usually assess this pretty well from the first meeting but knowing how involved you want to be is key to having a good relationship. Generally, there are two types of client; those who want nothing to do with the job and trust us to do the best job for them; and those who want to micro manage every part of the project. Luckily, we can accommodate both!
We also need to know what products you have ordered and when you expect them to be delivered. We like to have a full list as early as possible so we can check everything is going to arrive and all the parts are the right parts for the project.
NOTE: We will liaise with your product supplier on due dates and delivery details.
What you can expect from us.
As your project coordinator it’s our job to manage your expectations on time scale, cost and the level of disruption whilst the work is being carried out. A bathroom refurbishment can be invasive and if you’re living in the property while the work is being carried out, there may be extra processes which will need to be put in place. For example, the bathroom is out of action from day one of the project and this can be for up to three weeks; If this is your only bathroom, we would recommend making alternative arrangements (e.g. a holiday). If this isn’t possible, it means plumbing your toilet back in every night before we leave.
At the quote stage, you should expect a full and detailed list of all the works discussed at the first meeting, inclusive of costs. Once the job is booked in, you will receive updates on any movement to the installation date and in-turn, we will need any updates with changes to product delivery dates.
Remember, you’re only booked in when we have both agreed a start date!
Making changes.
We are thorough with our quotes but we need you to check them as carefully as we do. This is YOUR project so be sure that everything you want (and don't want) has been accounted for. If the quote is more than your budget, don't worry. It might be that we can change parts of the project to free up time or change elements of the installation to accommodate this. TIP: be clear about your budget and realistic with your expectations. Great installation is key to a perfect finish. Yes, we said it!
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