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Renegotiating or walking away

Why does one written quote not settle the price on its own?

Because it is one firm’s price for the work they described, not the condition rating and not the only price in the market. RICS tells you to obtain written quotations for rating 3 items before you commit. It does not say the first number is the reduction. Show the quote to your solicitor with the survey wording, and say what the quote includes and what it leaves out.

Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Written for buyers in England and Wales unless this answer says otherwise. No named surveyor has signed this page. It is general guidance, not a report on your house, and not legal advice.

What is the fuller explanation?

A quote that assumes the worst, or that bundles a new kitchen into a damp repair, is a poor basis for a price cut. A quote that excludes scaffolding may be too low. The surveyor can sometimes say whether the quote answers the defect they described. They are not obliged to negotiate, and they are not a quantity surveyor pricing the contract.

If two competent firms are far apart, you still do not have a single ‘true’ figure. You have a range and a specification problem. Ask your solicitor how to use that range. Do not average it into a fake precision the contractors did not offer.

What should you ask your surveyor?

  • Does this quote match the defect you described, or a wider job?
  • What would a contractor need to see that you could not open?
  • Which items are still investigation, not yet a quote?

What are the typical next steps?

  1. Send the survey page with the request for a quote, so the contractor prices the right defect.
  2. Compare like with like: the same specification, the same VAT treatment.
  3. Let your solicitor decide how the figure enters the negotiation.

Costs vary with the building and with who you instruct. Where this page does not cite a published figure, ask the surveyor, a relevant specialist, or your solicitor for a written quote. Do not treat a forum average as the price.

Also asked about this

Should you always get three quotes?

RICS says written quotations for rating 3 items. It does not set a count of three. Get enough that you understand the job. One vague email is not that.

Can the seller’s cheaper quote replace yours?

Only if it is for the same work and you can see that. A lower number for a different specification is not a discount on yours.

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