How do you write a clear plumbing quote?

A clear plumbing quote tells the customer what work you will do, what the price includes and what still needs checking. The examples cover replacing a water heater, renovating a bathroom and investigating a blocked drain.

All amounts are invented to illustrate the structure. Replace them with your own prices, equipment details and local permit costs. The example prices exclude tax. Check which taxes apply to your job and show them in the quote.

Example: replacing a water heater

In this fictional request, a customer asks you to replace a water heater in the same location. After checking the installation, identify the replacement equipment and explain what the work includes. The customer should be able to tell whether removal of the old unit, connections and any required permit are part of the price.

Work: Remove the existing water heater and install the replacement specified in the quote in the same location.

Also included: testing after installation and leaving the work area tidy.

Not included in this example: moving the heater, repairing walls or flooring, or replacing other pipework. Add any of those tasks to the quote if you are including them in the price.

Avoid a line that only says “water heater installed.” Name the model the customer will receive and state the applicable equipment and installation warranties.

Example: plumbing for a bathroom renovation

A bathroom quote should say which fixtures you supply and which the customer supplies. It also needs to say where your work ends and another contractor's work begins.

In this fictional request, the customer wants the sink moved from beside the bathroom door to the opposite wall. They will supply the new fixtures. They want the shower and toilet to stay in their existing locations. Confirm the layout during your assessment before pricing the work.

Work included:

• Move the sink water and drain connections from the wall beside the bathroom door to the opposite wall.
• Prepare the connections for replacement shower fittings and a toilet in their existing locations.
• Install the customer-supplied sink, toilet and shower fittings after the other contractors finish tiling and wall repairs around the fixtures.

Before sending your quote, record the measured fixture positions and list each fixture’s brand and model. If you use a drawing to show those positions, attach it with its revision date.

This example assumes the customer buys the fixtures. Tiles, waterproofing, electrical work and wall repairs are outside the plumbing scope shown here. Write down who is responsible for each of those tasks.

Before quoting installation, check that the fixtures will work with the planned connections. If the customer changes a fixture or its location after accepting, write down the extra work and its price. Get written approval before starting it.

Example: diagnosing a drain problem before quoting a repair

For this example, a customer reports a blocked drain and asks what it will cost to fix. You need to inspect it before identifying the repair, so quote the investigation separately. The customer can approve the inspection without also approving a repair that has not been defined.

For example:

Drain inspection and camera survey: $180 before any applicable tax. Includes the inspection and an explanation of the findings. Repairs are quoted separately after inspection and require your written approval before work starts.

The repair quote should then name the work the inspection identified. State whether the customer pays the inspection charge separately or whether you deduct it from the repair price. If digging is needed, explain whether your repair price includes restoring the affected surface.

What should you check before sending a plumbing quote?

Check these details as well as the work and prices:

• Customer and location: name, contact details and the address where the work will happen.
• Equipment and materials: what you supply, what the customer supplies, and any selections still to be confirmed.
• Scope: removal, disposal, access and repairs to any walls or flooring disturbed by the work.
• Price and terms: the total, which taxes apply, whether they are included, payment terms and how long the price is valid.
• Planning: the order of visits or tasks, the expected start date or date range and anything that must happen first.
• Changes: any rates for specific extra work, shown separately from the quote total, and how you will obtain written approval.
• Acceptance: how the customer records acceptance of this version of the quote.

Permit, licensing and contract requirements vary by location and job. Confirm them with the relevant local authority before sending. The examples illustrate the quote's structure; they do not replace any required contract documents.

How can DoneQuote help you prepare the next plumbing quote?

In DoneQuote, keep your service descriptions and prices in your catalog, or import an existing price list. Use the customer’s request to create a draft.

Add work stages in Phases when the installation needs several visits. Put payment terms in Agreements.

Check the equipment, quantities, exclusions and terms for that particular job before sending. A previous replacement quote can provide useful wording, but its model, permit fee and price may not fit the next customer.

The customer receives an online quote they can review and approve. Read how AI helps you create a quote for the drafting process, or see DoneQuote for plumbers.