Detailed Scope of Work & Quotation Review

The contractor presents a detailed proposal outlining the scope of work, timeline, and a comprehensive quotation. The homeowner reviews this document, asks for clarifications, and potentially negotiates terms.

Dialogue

Listen and follow along with the conversation

contractor (Male)

Good morning, Ms. Chen. Thanks for meeting me. As promised, here's the detailed proposal for your home renovation, including the scope of work, timeline, and the full quotation.

homeowner (Female)

Good morning, Mr. Davis. Thank you. I appreciate how quickly you put this together. Let's take a look. I've had a quick glance, and it seems quite comprehensive.

contractor (Male)

My pleasure. Please feel free to ask any questions or point out anything that needs clarification. We've tried to be as detailed as possible, especially with the materials breakdown and labor costs.

homeowner (Female)

Okay, one thing I noticed. Under 'Kitchen Renovation,' the line item for custom cabinetry seems a bit higher than what we discussed initially. Is there a specific reason for that?

contractor (Male)

Ah, yes. We factored in the higher-grade wood and soft-close mechanisms you mentioned during our last walkthrough. If you prefer to stick to the original specifications, we can certainly adjust that down.

homeowner (Female)

Right, I remember discussing those. And what about the timeline? You've estimated six weeks from start to finish. Is that a firm commitment, or is there some wiggle room for potential delays?

contractor (Male)

We always build in a bit of buffer for unforeseen circumstances, but six weeks is our solid estimate given current lead times for materials. We'll communicate any potential shifts well in advance.

homeowner (Female)

That sounds fair. Overall, the proposal looks very professional. I'd like a day or two to sit with it and maybe discuss a few minor adjustments. Can we touch base again on Thursday?

contractor (Male)

Absolutely, Ms. Chen. Take all the time you need. I'm available Thursday morning. Just let me know what time works best for you. Thanks again for your time.

Vocabulary

Essential words and phrases from the dialogue

proposal

A written plan or offer for a project, like a renovation plan that includes details and costs. Use it when discussing business or project ideas, e.g., 'I received your proposal yesterday.'

scope of work

The detailed description of what tasks will be done in a project. It's practical for contracts; say, 'Please define the scope of work clearly.'

timeline

A schedule showing when project parts will start and finish. Useful in planning, e.g., 'What's the timeline for completion?'

quotation

A formal estimate of costs for services or goods. Common in business; for example, 'Can you send me a quotation?'

clarification

An explanation to make something clearer. Use it when you need more details, like 'I need clarification on this point.'

line item

A single entry in a list of costs or items, like in a budget. Helpful for reviewing bills; e.g., 'Check this line item.'

wiggle room

Extra flexibility or space for changes, often in schedules or prices. Informal; use in negotiations, e.g., 'Is there any wiggle room on the price?'

touch base

To briefly contact someone to discuss or update. Common in professional settings; e.g., 'Let's touch base next week.'

Key Sentences

Important phrases to remember and practice

Please feel free to ask any questions or point out anything that needs clarification.

This polite invitation encourages questions and shows openness. It's useful in meetings to make others comfortable. Grammar: Imperative form with 'feel free to' for suggestions.

Is there a specific reason for that?

A direct way to ask for an explanation about a difference or issue. Great for negotiations; use when reviewing details. Simple question structure with 'is there' for yes/no inquiries.

We factored in the higher-grade wood and soft-close mechanisms you mentioned.

This explains including extra costs based on prior discussion. Useful for justifying prices. 'Factored in' means 'included in calculations'; past tense for completed actions.

Is that a firm commitment, or is there some wiggle room for potential delays?

Asks if a promise is fixed or flexible. Practical for timelines in projects. Uses 'or' for alternatives and 'wiggle room' idiom for flexibility.

We always build in a bit of buffer for unforeseen circumstances.

Means adding extra time for unexpected problems. Helpful in planning discussions. 'Build in' is phrasal verb for incorporating; 'unforeseen' means not expected.

I'd like a day or two to sit with it and maybe discuss a few minor adjustments.

Requests time to review and suggest small changes. Polite for business; use when needing more time. Conditional 'I'd like' for requests, 'sit with it' idiom for careful review.

Can we touch base again on Thursday?

Suggests a follow-up meeting. Common in professional communication. 'Touch base' idiom means reconnect; question form for proposals.