Quoting for Equestrian and Kennel Work: Questions Before You Price

Equestrian and kennel jobs can be good work for a small building firm: repeat clients, clear needs and word of mouth in a close community. They also go wrong at the pricing stage more often than most. These are the questions worth asking before a number goes on paper.

Who uses the building, and how often

A private owner with two horses and a commercial yard with twenty will wear the same building very differently. Ask about daily use, vehicle access for deliveries and whether the public will visit.

What is already on the ground

Walk the site. Check access for a digger and a concrete wagon, the slope, where rainwater goes now and where the client wants it to go. Ground conditions near gateways and existing yards are often poor.

What the animals need

This is where general builders are caught out. Stall sizes, door widths, ventilation, kicking boards and separation between animals all come from the client's own setup. There is a fuller guide on what small builders should ask the client first, including the extra requirements of breeding clients.

Programme and weather

Animals may need to stay on site during the work. Agree where they will be kept, which areas are fenced off and what hours you can make noise. Allow for weather in groundwork, and say so in the quote.

Price it in stages

Break the quote into groundwork, structure, services and finishes. Clients in this market often want to phase the spend, and a staged quote lets them say yes to the first part without renegotiating the whole job.