What you get when you send a request
We do not have customer reviews yet, so instead we show you exactly what happens to your request and what the documents you receive look like.
What happens to your request, step by step
More · What happens to your request, step by step
You can ask us at any time which step your request is at. Each step you see is a step we actually do; dates are filled in as each one happens.
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Request received
More · Request received
- What happens
- You tell us the type of job and the district, on WhatsApp or by form.
- What you see
- A short confirmation: 'Step 1 done: we have your job type.'
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Brief written with you
More · Brief written with you
- What happens
- We ask the questions that matter for that job and write a short brief: what is to be done, sizes in metres, photos, who supplies materials, your preferred start window.
- What you see
- Your brief, to approve or correct before anyone prices it.
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Brief sent to invited contractors
More · Brief sent to invited contractors
- What happens
- The same brief goes to the contractors we invite for that job, so every proposal prices the same work.
- What you see
- The date the brief was sent.
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Proposals received
More · Proposals received
- What happens
- Contractors send written proposals. Some may decline or not reply.
- What you see
- A note when proposals arrive. We cannot promise how many.
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Our team reviews the proposals
More · Our team reviews the proposals
- What happens
- Our team reviews all proposals received and decides which ones reach you. Proposals from the construction company that runs Ella-Reno on an interim basis are labelled "affiliated".
- What you see
- Nothing yet; this step is internal, and we say so.
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Proposals sent to you side by side
More · Proposals sent to you side by side
- What happens
- You receive the selected proposals in one comparison: net, VAT and gross, what is included, duration, the contractor's warranty and payment stages.
- What you see
- The comparison, plus each full proposal.
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You decide
More · You decide
- What happens
- You choose one proposal, ask a contractor for a revision, or choose none. Choosing none is a normal outcome.
- What you see
- No deadline from us. If you want, pick a decision date and we will remind you once.
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Next steps in writing
More · Next steps in writing
- What happens
- If you choose a proposal, the next steps with that contractor are set out in writing before any work starts.
- What you see
- The written next steps.
Example (illustrative, not a real job)
What a brief looks like
More · What a brief looks like
This is a made-up example to show the format. The fields stay the same for every request; the values in square brackets are what you fill in with us.
| Request reference | [reference] |
|---|---|
| Job type | Bathroom renovation |
| District | [district] |
| Property | [house / flat]; [first occupied: year, if known] |
| Room size | [length] m × [width] m × [height] m |
| What stays | [e.g. window, door] |
| What goes | [e.g. bath, wall and floor tiles, vanity unit] |
| New fittings wanted | [shower or bath], [toilet type], [vanity unit] |
| Who supplies tiles and fittings | [customer / contractor] |
| Waterproofing | Floor and wet walls; water test before tiling requested |
| Plumbing or electrical changes | [none / describe] |
| Photos | [number] photos: every wall, floor and ceiling |
| Access and parking | [notes] |
| Preferred start window | [from DD/MM/YYYY to DD/MM/YYYY] |
| Proposal format requested | Net price, VAT rate and amount, gross total; items listed separately; duration; contractor's warranty in writing; payment stages tied to finished work |
Your brief is yours. You can use it with any contractor, including ones outside Ella-Reno.
Example (illustrative, not a real job)
What a proposal comparison looks like
A made-up example with no real prices. Placeholders such as [net price] show where each contractor's own figures appear. The letters A, B and C do not rank the proposals.
| Item | Proposal A | Proposal B (affiliated) | Proposal C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contractor | [contractor A] | [contractor B] (affiliated) | [contractor C] |
| Net price | [net price] | [net price] | [net price] |
| VAT rate stated | [VAT rate] | [VAT rate] | [VAT rate] |
| VAT | [VAT amount] | [VAT amount] | [VAT amount] |
| Gross total | [gross total] | [gross total] | [gross total] |
| Strip-out and debris removal | Included | Included | Not stated: ask |
| Waterproofing and water test | Included, test stated | Included, test not stated: ask | Included, test stated |
| Tiled area | [m²] | [m²] | [m²] |
| Fittings supplied by | [customer / contractor] | [customer / contractor] | [customer / contractor] |
| Duration | [working days] | [working days] | [working days] |
| Contractor's warranty | [scope, period, in writing?] | [scope, period, in writing?] | [scope, period, in writing?] |
| Payment stages | [stages tied to finished work] | [stages tied to finished work] | [stages tied to finished work] |
| Proposal valid until | [DD/MM/YYYY] | [DD/MM/YYYY] | [DD/MM/YYYY] |
More · What a proposal comparison looks like
- Compare what is included before the totals. 'Not stated' means the proposal does not say; ask the contractor before you decide.
- Check that the VAT rate on each proposal is stated, and confirm with your accountant if you are unsure which rate applies.
- A much lower total can mean some work is missing.