What to include when you post a building job (to get better quotes)

The quality of the quotes you get back is set by the quality of the brief you put out. A two-line job description gets you guesses and a huge spread of prices. A clear brief gets you accurate, comparable quotes — and protects you from "that'll be extra" later.

Here's what to include.

1. What you actually want done

Describe the outcome, not just the task. "Replace a tap" is different from "fix a dripping kitchen mixer tap, possibly worn cartridge." Say what's wrong, what you want instead, and any constraints.

2. Where, and what kind of property

Location sets travel and availability. Property type matters too — a flat, a Victorian terrace and a new-build behave very differently. Mention access issues (parking, stairs, listed building) up front.

3. Scale and any measurements

Even rough numbers help enormously. Square metres for flooring or plastering, number of radiators, length of fencing. Photos are worth more than paragraphs — add a few clear ones, and a short video for anything mechanical or hard to describe.

4. Timeline and urgency

Is this an emergency, something for the next few weeks, or planning for later in the year? Urgency changes who's available and what it costs. Be honest about your real timeframe.

5. Budget band (if you have one)

You don't have to name an exact figure, but a band helps trades tell you what's realistic and propose the right spec. It saves everyone time.

6. Anything regulated

Flag gas, electrical, structural or anything that may need building control or certification. It changes who's qualified to quote and what the job involves.

Why detail pays off

With AxionOS, a clear post does three things at once: it's matched to the right verified trades for that work, it lets them quote accurately instead of padding for unknowns, and it gives you comparable quotes you can actually weigh side by side. You can shortlist several trades, message them, then hire one — and pay by milestone escrow.

A 30-second template

• The job: what's wrong / what you want done
• Property & location: type, access, where
• Scale: rough measurements + photos/video
• Timeline: emergency / weeks / planning
• Budget band: optional but useful
• Regulated? gas / electrical / structural — flag it

Spend two minutes on the brief and you'll save hours comparing mismatched quotes — and avoid most of the surprises that turn a simple job into a stressful one.