Write down what you can't see yet
Most plumbing estimates go wrong behind the wall: galvanized pipe that crumbles when you touch it, a shutoff that won't close, a drain with no slope. You can't price what you can't see, but you can say what you assumed:
- how you will get access, and who repairs the opening
- what pipe material you expect to tie into
- whether the main shutoff works
- who supplies fixtures, and whose warranty covers them
When the wall opens and the assumption turns out wrong, the extra charge is a change the client already read about.
Fixtures: allowance or owner-supplied
Either give a fixture allowance ("shower trim allowance $300") or state that the owner supplies them. Leaving it vague is how a plumber ends up installing a $900 valve at a $300 price.
Questions plumbers ask
Why does a plumbing estimate change after work starts?
Usually because of hidden conditions behind walls and floors. Listing your assumptions on the estimate is what makes those changes fair and easy to explain.
Should a plumbing estimate include the permit?
Yes, when the work needs one. List it as its own line so the owner knows the job is being permitted and inspected.
Missing a line you always need? Email support@vanreceipts.app and we will add it to the template.