What Is A Quote?
A quote consists of an educated guess/guesstimate at how long a job or a number of different jobs will take. I then have to add additional hours or even day(s) to cover for any unseen problems I might come across.
Example:
I did a quote recently for some painting and decorating, I estimated that the job would take about five days £525.00. When I put the quote together, I added a full day to cover the unforeseen. £525.00.00 + extra day @ £105.00 = £630.00.
I did the job in 4 1/2 days so would have charged £472.50 at the hourly rate.
Had she excepted hourly payments, she would have saved, £157.50.
Yes all quotes by all trades are done this way.
For some jobs, expecially those involving multiple tasks such as; plumbing, decorating, electrics and carpentry, I will only do the job at an hourly rate.