Seven red flags in an interior quote (and what to ask instead)

A quote is a promise about work that does not exist yet. Its only real job is to be specific enough that somebody can be held to it. These seven phrases are the ones that quietly remove that.

The seven

1. “Premium fittings”

Not a specification. Ask instead: which brand, which series, for hinges, channels and locks — written into the quote.

2. “Approx.” against a quantity

Approximate quantities become exact invoices. Ask instead: the running feet or square feet per unit, and what happens to the rate if the measured quantity differs.

3. “Civil work extra”

Fine if you know the size of “extra”. Ask instead: a written list of what is excluded, with an estimate against each line, so the real total is visible today.

4. One lump sum for the whole project

A single number cannot be checked, compared or part-paid against progress. Ask instead: an area-by-area, item-by-item breakdown.

5. “Standard ply”

There is no standard. Ask instead: the grade and brand per location — and specifically what is going into pantries, washrooms and service counters.

6. Payment weighted to the front

70 per cent before anything is fabricated removes your only leverage. Ask instead: stages tied to visible milestones — drawings frozen, factory work done, installation complete, snags closed.

7. No date anywhere

If the quote has no handover date, there is no date. Ask instead: the date in the contract, and the consequence of missing it.

What a complete quote looks like

It runs to several pages, it is boring, and every line has a quantity, a specification and a rate. You can read it a year later and tell exactly what you were promised. That is the whole point of it.

Questions we get asked

Should I always take the lowest quote?

Only if it is the same scope. Line the quotes up item by item first; the lowest one is frequently the shortest one.

Is it rude to ask for a bill of quantities?

No. Anyone working properly already has it, because they cannot order material without it. A refusal tells you something worth knowing.

How much advance is normal?

Ten to twenty per cent to start design, then payments against completed stages. Front-loading beyond that is a risk you are carrying, not them.