How to write a job brief tradies can quote from (with a template)

Most quote requests look like this: “Hi, need an electrician for a power point, can you quote?” The tradie has to call back, ask five questions, and often come out to look before they can give you a number. Multiply that by three quotes and your week is gone.

A short, clear brief gets you better quotes, faster. Tradies prefer them too, because they can tell straight away whether the job suits them.

What a good brief includes

1. One line on the job. “Replace a scorched double power point in the hallway.”
2. Where. Your suburb and the room. Save your street address for the tradie you book.
3. The scope. What you want done, in two to five dot points.
4. What you’ve noticed. Burn marks, a smell, when it started, anything that changed.
5. Photos. A wide shot showing where it is, and a close-up of the problem.
6. A few questions. Access, timing, parts, and any certificate you’ll need afterwards.

Keep it under a page. A tradie reading it on their phone between jobs should get the picture in 30 seconds.

A copy-paste template

I'd like a quote to [what needs doing].
Location: [suburb, state], [room or area]

What needs doing
- [task one]
- [task two]

What I've noticed
- [the problem, when it started, anything relevant]

Questions
- Is a site visit needed, or can you quote from the photos?
- When could you fit it in?
- Will I get a compliance certificate when it's done?

Photos attached.

Photos that save a site visit

• One wide, one close. The wide shot shows access and context. The close-up shows the problem.
• Turn the lights on. Or use your phone’s torch for inside cupboards and ceiling spaces.
• Show the label. For hot water systems, switchboards and appliances, photograph the model plate.
• Include something for scale. A tape measure or your hand is fine.

Questions worth asking every tradie

• Are you licensed for this work in my state? Can I have your licence number?
• Is the quote fixed, or an estimate? What could change it?
• Does it include parts, call-out and rubbish removal?
• Will I get a certificate of compliance? For licensed electrical, plumbing and gas work, most states require one.
• How long is the workmanship warranty?

You can check a tradie’s licence on your state regulator’s public register before you book.

Let Jib write the brief

When Jib marks a job Tradie required, a Get quotes button appears next to the verdict.

1. Tap Get quotes. Jib writes a brief from the job’s details, the steps involved, your house and the job’s photos.
2. Check it over. Tap the pencil to change anything. Add your address when you’re ready to book.
3. Share it. Send it by text, email or a quote site, with the job’s photos attached. Or just copy the text.

The brief is saved with the job, so you can send the same one to three tradies without writing it three times.

Frequently asked questions

Does the brief include my address or name? No. Jib leaves those out on purpose. Add them yourself for the tradie you choose.

Does it include a price? No. The brief is about the job, not what you expect to pay. Jib’s cost estimate stays on the job for your own reference.

Is it free? The brief is part of Jib’s paid plans and uses one AI credit the first time. Reopening, editing and sharing it after that is free.

This guide is general information, not legal or professional advice. Rules differ between states, councils and individual properties, and they change. Confirm with your state regulator or council before starting work, and if in doubt, get a licensed tradesperson.