The short answer
A good quote names every item with its size, and every material by brand and grade: the board, the finish and the fittings. It says what is not included, how long the price holds, and when it becomes final. If two quotes do not name the same things, they cannot be compared.
In this guide
What a quote should name
| On the quote | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Each item | Wardrobe, loft, kitchen base units, TV unit, each on its own line |
| Its size | Width and height, or the area it is priced by |
| The board | Brand and grade: BWP where water reaches, MR elsewhere |
| The finish | Laminate, acrylic or PU, with the brand |
| The fittings | Brand of hinges, drawer channels and sliding hardware |
| What is not included | Appliances, the sink and hob, civil work, painting |
| Tax | Shown once, on the total |
| How long it holds | The date the price stops holding |
A quote that says only “plywood” or “good-quality laminate” leaves the most important choices open, and two quotes with the same total can be very different homes. BWP or MR ply and laminate or acrylic explain the grades to ask about.
An estimate, or the final quote?
Most interior companies give an estimate first and a final quote after someone has measured your home. Know which one you are looking at. With us, after you submit the quote you have built, your designer checks it and sends you an initial estimate. We then visit your home to measure, and send your final quote. That is the one you accept, and it holds for 30 days.
Your final quote holds for 30 days, and its price is fixed when you book with the advance. After that, the price you agreed is the price you pay.
Comparing two quotes
- Line up the items. Is the loft in both? The kitchen wall cabinets? The same wardrobe widths?
- Line up the materials. Same grade of board in the same places, same finish, same brand of fittings.
- Look for what one leaves out. Installation, transport and site cleaning are sometimes separate.
- Check how long each price holds, and whether it can change after measuring.
- Check the warranty, and what it covers: the board, the finish and the fittings are often covered for different periods.
Fees and payment
Ask what you pay, when, and for what. Some companies charge for the design before you have seen a price. Planning your home with us is free, and you pay nothing until you go ahead; our FAQ sets out how payment works.
From our designer
When someone brings me another quote to compare, I start by listing the materials side by side, not the totals. Most of the time, that is where the difference in price is.
— An Ekatan designer
See it in your own home
Send your floor plan. A designer draws your home within 24 hours.
Common questions
Is the price I see while planning final?
Not yet. Your designer checks it, we measure your home, and your final quote is the one you accept.
Can the price change after I accept?
No. Once your final quote is sent, its price is locked.
Why does the quote name brands?
So you know what you are paying for, and can compare it fairly with any other quote.
Related guides
Your home, before it’s built
Free to plan. You pay nothing until you go ahead.