What does a winning quote contain, beyond the price?
A winning quote makes the job easy to say yes to: the scope in plain words, the specifications named — brand, size, finish — what is excluded, how long the price holds, and how payment works, all on one page the client can approve from his phone. Price matters, but most quotes are lost on vagueness: the client cannot tell what he is actually buying, so he delays, or picks the man whose paper he understood.
What are the parts of a complete quote?
Five parts, every time. Leave one out and the client fills the gap with a worry — or your competitor's quote fills it for him:
- Scope: the work, in plain words, line by line — each line something the client can picture being done.
- Specifications: the materials and standards behind the lines — unit size, tile format, paint system — in the client's own confirmed choices, not your assumptions.
- Price per line and a clear total, with VAT shown the way your firm handles it: on with the split, or off with no split.
- Exclusions: what is not included — work by others, unseen conditions, permits — stated before they become a dispute.
- Validity and payment terms: the date the price holds until, the advance required, and when the balance is due.
Which details quietly win or lose the job?
Specifications are the silent decider. Two quotes at similar prices are not similar if one names the unit, the brand and the finish and the other says “AC work — AED 4,000”. The named quote looks like a plan; the vague one looks like a guess, and clients know guesses grow.
Exclusions protect both sides: the client learns now — not mid-job — that the quote assumes sound existing pipework, and you avoid funding surprises. And validity matters because material prices move: a dated quote lets you reprice honestly, while an undated one gets waved at you a year later. Deposits and how to word them are covered in deposits and advance payments.
How fast should the quote go out?
Fast — the quote sent from the site visit, before you leave, lands while the client still remembers the conversation and before a competitor's visit resets it. Speed is only useful if the numbers are sound, which is why the quote should be built from rates you prepared in advance: see building your price book.
In InstaJack, a quote is built standing on the job from your own price book — your specs added in your words on any line — and sent on WhatsApp as a link the client approves with a tap. InstaJack does not price the job for you and does not promise you will win it; it puts a complete, approvable quote in the client's hand while the visit is still fresh.
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How long should a quote stay valid?+
Long enough for the client to decide, short enough that material prices have not moved against you — and always a stated date, never open-ended. If the date passes, reprice the affected lines and say so plainly; clients accept honest repricing better than silent padding.
Should I show the client my full price breakdown?+
Show line prices — clients trust a quote they can follow. Your costs and margin are a different matter: they live in your price book, not on the client's paper. Lines explain what he is buying; your build-up is your business.
What exclusions should I always list?+
Anything a reasonable client might assume is included but is not: work belonging to another trade, making good beyond the work area, anything hidden that cannot be inspected yet, and fees or approvals that are the client's to obtain. List them before the job, kindly and clearly.
Is it better to offer one price or options?+
One clear price for the job as specified is the safest default. Options help when the client is genuinely choosing between specifications — a standard and a premium unit, say — as long as each option is complete and priced, not a teaser.