How binding is a written quote?

[dwiz8]

I have tried google but am getting confused so wondered if anyone here could help.

We are in the process of getting decking done at our home. A guy came out and quoted for the decking at £1500 and said once our hot tub arrived he would come out and just take another measurement as there would then be less decking needed.

We then asked him later to quote to also deck our garden path to which he quoted £750

A few weeks later our hot tub arrived and he came out to measure again. Bare in mind the space for the main decking area was now less due to the hot tub and the fact we managed to get some more turf for the rest of our garden (so instead of 4 fence panels wide by 3 fence panels it's now 3.5 panels by 3 panels)

He had just now come back and said the full quote inc path is £3500!

Considering the main deck should have been £1500 or less and the path was quoted at £750 this has shocked us tbh.

How binding is the original quote or does the binding part only come into play if he had done the work and then increased the price?

TIA

I would say it's not binding at all. Market conditions change and so do prices. Maybe he doesn't want the job as much anymore. IMO it would only be binding if he had given you a full written quote, done the work and then tried charging you a much higher price.

@Crinkledbeetroot

I would say it's not binding at all. Market conditions change and so do prices. Maybe he doesn't want the job as much anymore. IMO it would only be binding if he had given you a full written quote, done the work and then tried charging you a much higher price.

That's what I thought

Shame though as it was a full written quote and now a week before it's due for completion he pulls this

Meaning we now have to pay more for a contractor to come out and do it as a 'rush' job

The quote becomes binding at the point at which the full job is available for the tradesperson to give an accurate price on and you accepting ideally in writing ( email is okay) confirming the quote and details.
For some reason since the arrival of the hot tub the job has become less desirable to the tradesperson so they have upped their price, maybe it is more tricky or maybe they have a much bigger-easier job that they would rather do.

@Lonecatwithkitten

The quote becomes binding at the point at which the full job is available for the tradesperson to give an accurate price on and you accepting ideally in writing ( email is okay) confirming the quote and details. For some reason since the arrival of the hot tub the job has become less desirable to the tradesperson so they have upped their price, maybe it is more tricky or maybe they have a much bigger-easier job that they would rather do.

Just frustrating as he did the first part of the job (prepping for the hot tub) and has now left us in the lurch to find someone to complete what he started in less than 2 weeks

It’s binding as soon as you have a offer and acceptance of a sufficiently detailed specification. That makes it a contract, and therefore enforceable.

Whether it’s worth litigating over is a different question entirely.