“Can You Give Me a Breakdown of the Quote, Please…?” 🤔

[@Chrislee-kl5wc]

I have found that a small amount of customers think that you are trying to rip them off when you give them the price of materials, and once they look for themselves they realise that materials are not cheap.

[@richardmatthews6325]

Hi Jon Completely agree with you. I always break down my estimates, note estimate not quote. I am a bit more vague now than i used to be though, and i have had clients say how impressed they were with the information i supplied to them. Best ive seen was a 'Landscaper' who gave an elderly client a piece of paper with - ' Lay patio. £1400'....

[@stewart9476]

Won't break down, i don't have time, very busy on projects, so that's that.

[@finerlandscapes1935]

Breaking down quotes from my experience tends to directly mean the separation between labour costs and material costs. I give and have given separation of cost based on induvidual tasks within the project but I feel giving a full breakdown can self damaging if the customer doesnt understand the requirement for contingencies for both material and labour. Or simply just argue the value we as landscapers put on to our own work.

[@PavedinStoneLtd]

You're not wrong, it's a cultural thing too I think

[@spatel3783]

appreciate your thoughts, thank you! breaking up the quote into the major elements makes sense, helps make a decision. the transparency creates trust :)

[@mottersheadpaving]

i agree with you to an extent but would you include your discount that you get at the builders merchant or would you alter the price to not include the discount.

[@PavedinStoneLtd]

That's down to the individual I guess. I certainly do believe that the discount a contractor receives from the merchant should be for the benefit of said contractor. Now, some ppl will apply their markup to materials, and then quote, nothing wrong with that. Others might price materials at cost, but then add a management fee as part of their pre-lims. The key thing to understand is that is perfectly acceptable for a contractor to be making a reasonable profit for their business...it's no different to any other business

[@David-qe6wq]

If it’s multiple jobs, yes because they may only be able to afford certain part of it , but if it’s just a patio or just driveway My answer is no if you’re happy with the overall price, why do you need a breakdown basically they want to know how much you’re earning on the job what they don’t considering is all the running about you have to do before you start, working the material out organising deliveries all the training you had to do all the tools you had to buy they just go you’re earning extra amount per day that is too much. Do it yourself then is my reply

[@jc8023]

Talking sense. Do you have a procedure for taking deposits?

[@PavedinStoneLtd]

We do, although it's not called a deposit. We have a mobilisation fee that books the work, and also triggers creation of contract files such as CDMs, risk assessments etc

[@caerleon87]

I would not be breaking the quote down, because they are trying to be clever. What they are really saying it; "i think you are robbing me but i am to smart for you and i will sort you out" What are they going to be like when you want to be paid. Price for the job and if not happy walk away..

[@PavedinStoneLtd]

I hear you, and I've certainly had some experience like that, but I think those ppl are the minority.

[@davieferguson202]

It’s irrelevant . The figure ends up the same. Take it or leave it