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A useful kitchen-fitting quote tells you exactly what will be installed, what you must arrange separately and how changes will be priced. A single total beside “fit kitchen” leaves too many decisions until work has started.
Use this checklist when you ask for a quotation, then send the same brief to each business. It is written for homeowners in England, including our Birmingham kitchen pilot.
Start with the kitchen you actually want fitted
Give the installer your proposed layout, cabinet list and appliance model numbers. Mark anything you intend to keep. Include photographs of the room, approximate dimensions and your postcode, but expect the installer to confirm measurements before committing to the work.
Explain whether you need design, supply and installation, or fitting only. A supplier's cabinet price and an installer's labour price describe different purchases. If you are buying the kitchen yourself, ask who checks the order, receives the delivery and resolves missing or damaged items.
Citizens Advice recommends obtaining written quotes from at least three traders and checking that the work, materials and price are clear. Its home-improvement advice also covers insurance and written contracts.
Ask for these items to be priced or explicitly excluded
| Part of the job | What to ask the installer to specify |
|---|---|
| Removal | Which old units, appliances, tiles and flooring will be removed? Who takes the waste away? |
| Preparation | Are wall repairs, plastering and floor preparation included? What happens if damage is uncovered? |
| Cabinets | Does the price include assembly, fitting, door adjustment, end panels, plinths and handles? |
| Worktops | Who measures, supplies and fits them? Are joints, cut-outs, upstands and a separate templating visit included? |
| Sink and appliances | Which items are being connected, by whom, and who supplies the connection parts? |
| Lighting and power | Which sockets, circuits, lights and switches are included in the electrical scope? |
| Finishes | Are splashbacks, tiling, decorating, trims and sealant included? Name the products or allowances. |
| Completion | Who tests the installation, removes packaging and returns to address agreed snags? |
Put “included”, “excluded” or a priced allowance beside each relevant row. An allowance is money set aside for something not yet fully specified; ask what could make it change. A blank space is a question to resolve, not a zero-cost item.
Separate gas, electrical and building work
Ask who is responsible for each specialist task, whether they are included in the quoted total and what paperwork you will receive. For gas work, check the engineer's registration and qualifications for the particular job. The HSE explains how to check a Gas Safe engineer.
A kitchen refit does not automatically require building regulations approval, but associated electrical or drainage work may. Moving the kitchen to a different room can also change the position. Check the actual proposal using the Planning Portal's kitchen and bathroom guidance, and speak to building control where needed.
Make the programme fit your household
Ask for an expected start, installation duration and any separate worktop or specialist visits. Establish when the sink, cooker and washing machine will be unavailable. Explain access restrictions, stairs, parking and where materials can be stored.
For example, if the worktop needs measuring after the cabinets are fitted, ask whether the quotation includes a return visit and how the gap between visits affects use of the room. This is a planning question, not a promise that every worktop follows the same process.
Compare the complete price
Request the total payable, its VAT treatment, the quotation's expiry date and a clear payment schedule. Ask whether the document is a fixed quotation or an estimate. Agree a written process for approving extras before the additional work starts.
Our suggested comparison sheet has four columns: the quoted total, priced exclusions, unresolved allowances and questions awaiting an answer. Do not invent a price for missing work just to make the totals comparable; ask the business for a revised quotation.
A message you can adapt
“Please quote for the attached kitchen layout at [postcode]. We need [design/supply/fitting] and plan to retain [items]. Please separate removal, preparation, cabinets, worktops, plumbing, electrics, finishes and waste disposal. Confirm exclusions, VAT, allowances, specialist contractors, expected dates and payment stages. Please tell us what you need to inspect before confirming the price.”
For local options, use our questions to ask a Birmingham kitchen fitter, which links to business profiles and explains their advertised services. When your brief is ready, request kitchen quotes through HouseJester. Responses depend on suitable businesses being available.
Prepared by HouseJester using the public sources linked above, checked on 22 October 2026. This is a practical enquiry checklist, not a site survey or an assessment of an individual contractor.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by the HouseJester editorial team for accuracy and relevance.
Written by
HouseJester Editorial
Editorial Team
The HouseJester editorial team brings together specialists in furniture, interior design, and home improvement to provide trusted guidance for UK homeowners.