AIBU to want itemised quote for big garden job?

[MessyGardenIssue]

Namechanged for this, and just to be clear from the off, I don't mean little detail. I want to know if I am expecting more than I am likely to be able to get. Also trying not to dripfeed without a huge essay.

We have a large corner plot and its a mess, overgrown and old climbing frame, trampoline, bbq etc need removed, then returf and relay patio. Maybe remove 2 trees, maybe extend patio, maybe make lower level bigger by digging out some of upper level and rebuild supporting low wall.

So far one company has given a quote for clearance and said they will quote for the rest after the toys and brambles etc are gone.

The other company only want to quote by text and an all in price with no detail at all. I tried asking them back and giving a written list, but it didn't go down too well. I had to assure him several times that I understood some things (like removal) would have to happen before other things, and that having the digger in once is better than having it in twice etc.
We want an itemized quote for :

1. Removal of things and vegetation + leveling + returf
2. Patio
3. Patio + more patio (so we can choose whether to have the extra)
4. Digging out to make lower level bigger (so we can choose)
5. Secure under fences for dogs
6. Tree removal x2

I really worry that without anything written down we would be paying thousands and putting up with weeks of works for someone to do what they think they will do, rather than what we want done. Things keep coming up like they'll put mulch under the trees - we didn't ask for and it must cost something but they wont say how much. AIBU?

The price of Each part will depend on the size of teh whole job.
The oldest trick in the book is for the client to want an itemised quote for a big job, get prices based on the job being done in its entirety, and the client cherry picks little bits here and there.

Agree with 5plus

You might go to work for your company for a day and list all the jobs you do. Your pay is fair. The compnay then asks you to commute in for twenty minutes in the morning and an hour from 4-5 and pays you simply to do those tasks - and they might be the cheap taks. Not worth your while commuting twice and giving up a day. Obvious really

I remember a particular client.

I quoted £30 per hour based on travelling to her and doing 5 hours three days a week for six weeks. A good job - almost £1000.

First day she "had an urgent meeting" - we finished early she paid me for 4 hours. Next day she asked for only 2 hours and could we make up the other three on the Saturday. I agreed as I needed the work but my travel was expensive. The following Monday was fine. Then she cut the Wednesday to two hours - still expecting to pay £30 - and asked of she could make up the hours another day later in the year.

It was difficult as she simply didn't see why it mattered.

Another agreeing with 5plus. I think the only way you'll get what you want is to split the one job into 6 seperate jobs, as you've detailed above. That would be much more expensive though. Much more. I wouldn’t be happy with a text; you need something in writing. Perhaps you need to look further afield for contractors.

Separate. I can spell.

I think though OP can only make a decision as to the extent of the work when they know the ballpark cost for things they potentially want doing and so can budget. Agree that if some elements quoted aren’t proceeded with there may need to be a requote.

I’d get the first company to do the clearout and then you might be better able to visualise the new look.

Nothing wrong with an itemised quote, as long as the quote makes clear that the prices only apply if the client agrees to the entire job i.e. no cherry picking.

You definitely should have a list of all agreed tasks. It's too easy for either party to argue a job was included/wasn't included.

It might be a good idea to talk to the contractor, explain what you want doing and ask for a verbal ball park figure. Discuss how much more or less it could be if you include or exclude various bits. Make it clear what your limits are. Use that to make a decision and then ask for a written quote.

It seems as if you want the contractor to agree and be bound to something so that you can hold them to it but you don't want to agree to doing all the work - you want the flexibility to adapt the work as you go along. I can see why but it is unlikely to work out well..

An open discussion based on trust would get you further.

I think it is too easy to say that the gardeners are worried about customers cherry picking aspects of the quote - they can easily specify that that the price is for the complete job, not parts of, or itemise each part with a discount for them doing the complete job. It isn't difficult if they want the work.

We had similar trouble some years ago where no one would come to see the job and price it and it felt the height of stupidity to contract someone to start a job wthout providing a detailed quote, so we had to do it ourselves which was very difficult at the time. It wouldn't happen in the building trade.

I wondered if actually there is so much work that they don't need to try very hard. None of the gardeners we contacted seemed bothered about being chosen.

Agree that getting the garden cleared first would be your best bet. It may also save you money as you can use less skilled labour/ handy man etc for this part of the work, then choose a company that actually does proper garden design to do the design and garden.

Not all gardening contractors are good at the design part - some are actually more like garden labourers with general/ basic horticultural skills. Perhaps that is why you are getting vague suggestions of mulch which sounds like a lack of detailed knowledge to me.

Don't spend out until you are sure - maybe cast your net further afield for someone you are happy with.

You might well find they aren't interested in the job anyway. I was let down by four different gardeners. I wanted 2 hours a week, I agreed to the price they quoted, they arranged to come the following week. Never turned up. Not one of them.

Agree, I always want itemised quotes. It means everything is clearcut and unambiguous, and I can't see why both parties wouldn't want this.

Experience says that a detailed-ish quote is fine once the job is agreed but OP does not yet know what she wants done exactly which means she is going to ask for requotes as she re-thinks what she wants - maybe halfway through the job.

Gardeners might not have time to keep re-quoting. It can take hours. Profit margins are not huge and maybe they feel that the chances of actually getting the work are slim anyway.

Detailed quotes nearly always lead to arguments. "I see you have put £30 for X? If I supply the X, (I can buy it online for half price) will you install/lay/plant it?. No because my price for X includes my profit margin.

Like those ridiculous people who cost out the price of a cup of tea in a cafe and come up with 10p and then rage at being charged £3.50 yet still want to sit in the warm, use the loo, enjoy the service etc.