Do you know the difference between a quote, an estimate and a charge up job? Here is an explanation to provide you with a little insight when you are next appointing a tradie to complete a job. Quote: A quote is a legally binding agreement made between a client and tradesperson. A quote should be provided in writing and the price is set. It can only be changed at a later date if both parties agree. More cannot be charged if a job takes longer than expected, and clients are obliged to pay the full quote, even if the job takes less time than initially expected. A quoted job is usually used when all the necessary information about a job is available. For example, a new build or property extension. Note: Quotes can be provided for other types of jobs, such as renovations, however there will usually be unknown aspects of the job which are tagged out and will be added on to the bill at the end. Estimate: An estimate is an educated guess about how much a job will cost, based on the prior experiences of the tradesman on similar jobs. This can be given to you verbally or in writing, but is not a guaranteed price. The purpose of an estimate is to give you a rough idea of what the job is going to cost you to complete. Often estimates are used on jobs when there are unknown factors within the job, for example, a renovation. Sometimes hidden elements cause a job to take a lot longer or require more or less work than initially planned. Charge up: Charge up is when the tradesperson simply charges for the time is takes to complete a job, using their hourly rate, along with charging for materials used. No final price is agreed upon beforehand. We hope this has given you some clarity around the way tradies price their jobs, but if you have any questions please let us know. We are here to help you out!