How electricians quote jobs (without drowning the customer)
Electrical quotes balance clarity and detail: enough to be professional, not so much that the customer freezes or starts asking which RCBO is which. The structure is: packages for boards and contained work, line items for points and circuits, and plain-English outcomes the customer actually cares about.
Consumer unit jobs as a package
A consumer unit replacement is a well-defined piece of work -- board type, RCBO layout, earthing, testing and certification. Customers do not need to see a parts list; they need to see what they are getting and what it costs.
Build a package line: 'Supply and fit consumer unit -- 18-way fully loaded RCBO, BS7671 compliant, including earthing check, Part P notification and issue of EICR.' That is one line. It is clear. It is professional. It does not invite the customer to price the board separately.
- State board type and spec (18-way, 10-way, dual RCD) in the line item description
- Include earthing arrangement and what happens if earth bonds are absent
- Testing: at minimum note that EIC is included -- many customers do not know what this is, so say it plainly
- Part P notification: state who handles it -- you or the customer's building control
- Access assumptions: note if the customer needs to clear the meter cupboard or if there are anticipated issues with old wiring
Points and circuits as scalable line items
Socket and lighting circuits scale with count -- price per point for simple additions, per circuit for dedicated supplies. The customer can choose to add or remove without renegotiating the whole quote.
Notes that protect you: chasing routes, making good to plaster, floor reinstatement. These are not included by default and should say so explicitly. One sentence per assumption is enough.
- Socket addition: per point, includes back box, cable, face plate -- note chasing not included
- New circuit from board: fixed per circuit, includes cable, protection and label -- note floor lifting if applicable
- EV charger: fixed supply-and-fit, includes DNO notification if required, excludes groundwork
- Containment and cable management: linear metre rate -- quote separately for trunking-heavy commercial work
- Pendant light or downlight: per fitting, includes cable to nearest junction -- note existing circuit condition
Testing, certification and compliance
Never hide certification -- it is part of the deliverable and a genuine differentiator from unlicensed competition. Customers who know the difference will buy on it. Customers who do not will learn when they try to sell the house.
EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report), EIC (Electrical Installation Certificate) and Minor Works certificates each belong on the quote for the work they cover. If you are Part P registered, say so -- it is a trust signal.
- EIC included on all full installations and board changes -- state this explicitly
- Minor Works Certificate: included on additions to existing circuits
- EICR: price separately if the customer needs a condition report -- do not include it in every quote by default
- Part P self-certification: note your scheme membership (NICEIC, NAPIT, etc.) -- customers buying for rental or sale care about this
How to handle problem properties
Old rewirable fuse boards, rubber-insulated legacy wiring, PME earthing issues and high-resistance earth paths are common finds in UK stock. The quote needs to cover what you can see, plus what you might find.
A contingency clause on the quote is not admitting failure -- it is professional practice. 'Quoted work assumes T&E wiring throughout. If aluminum or rubber-insulated wiring is found, remedial costs will be agreed before continuation at day rate.'
Rewires and first/second fix
Split rewires across first and second fix payments -- progress invoicing keeps cashflow healthy and confirms scope at each stage. First fix: containment, cabling, back boxes, consumer unit roughed in. Second fix: face plates, connections, testing, certification. Agree both payments upfront so there is no ambiguity at plaster-out.
Quote follow-up for electrical work
Consumer unit jobs and rewires are not impulse purchases. A polite follow-up at day 5-7 after sending doubles conversion without pressure. Customers are often waiting on a second quote, a landlord approval, or simply getting round to replying.
A single message referencing the quote number and offering to answer questions is enough. If they want to proceed: confirm acceptance in writing before ordering materials.
Where Pro Quoter fits
One hub from enquiry to payment: customers, diary, measures, quotes and invoices linked -- mobile-first for van and site. Build packages once in the Price Book so you are pulling a board change or circuit addition rather than typing from scratch.
AI-assisted wording for descriptions and customer messages -- not a gimmick replacing your trade knowledge. You stay in control of scope, spec and price.
FAQ
- Should I itemise every socket?
- Group where possible -- 'Supply and fit 6 double sockets throughout ground floor including cable and containment' is cleaner than 6 separate lines. Call out premium finishes, USB/PD outlets or floor sockets as separate items.
- How do I quote for unexpected issues like old wiring?
- Include a contingency note on the quote: state the assumption (modern T&E wiring) and the process if it is wrong (stop, discuss, agree additional cost at day rate before continuing). This protects you and sets the customer's expectation honestly.
- Should I include Part P notification cost in the quote?
- Yes -- either as an included line or a separately priced line depending on your registration. Customers who are buying for rental or resale specifically need this; making it visible builds trust.