Decision guides
What Should Be Included in a Professional Quote?
Updated 11 June 2026 · 5 min read · Written for Australian homeowners and builders
A professional Australian tradie or builder quote should be readable, comparable and enforceable. Here's the anatomy of one that ticks all three.
The 12 things every quote should include
- ☐Business name, ABN and registered address
- ☐Licence number(s) and state of issue
- ☐Insurance details (public liability, home warranty where applicable)
- ☐Named contact and direct phone/email
- ☐Quote number and date
- ☐Detailed scope of works (trade-by-trade)
- ☐Materials specified by brand and model (or PC sums with $ allowance)
- ☐Exclusions — written explicitly
- ☐Payment schedule and deposit amount
- ☐Variation procedure (how changes are priced)
- ☐Workmanship warranty period
- ☐Validity period of the quote (e.g. 30 days)
Bonus markers of a quality quote
- Indicative start date and duration
- Site rules (parking, access, toilets, working hours)
- Dispute resolution clause referencing state fair trading
- Photos or sketches where helpful
Cross-reference with 7 Red Flags in Tradie Quotes.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a quote legally binding?
- Once accepted in writing, generally yes — it forms a contract. That's why exclusions and variations clauses matter so much.
- How long should a quote stay valid?
- 30 days is standard. Longer for major builds where material prices may need to be re-confirmed.
- What's the difference between a quote and an estimate?
- A quote is a fixed offer; an estimate is indicative. If the document says 'estimate', expect the final bill to differ.
Stop guessing whether a quote is fair
QuoteSift reads up to five quotes at once and produces a plain-English report: what's missing, what's inflated, what the best-value option actually is.