SADEED

How to Prepare a Useful Brief Before Requesting a Fit-Out Quote

By /

A clear brief gets you a better quotation and makes proposals easier to compare. This guide is a checklist of what to gather before you ask, and what to do if the design is not final.

What to include

  • Location and property type, with the unit or area involved.
  • Plans, drawings or sketches, even if they are incomplete.
  • Photographs of the space where permitted.
  • The scope: what you want done and what you do not.
  • The desired level of finish and any brand or design standards.
  • Target date and the reason it matters.
  • Access rules, working hours and any building requirements.
  • Who makes decisions and how quickly.

Is a site visit necessary?

For anything that depends on existing conditions, yes. A visit lets the contractor verify measurements and conditions, and lets you hear questions you had not thought of.

What if the design is not final?

Share what you have and say what is still open. A contractor can price a range of options, or give an indicative figure with clear assumptions, which you can firm up as the design settles.

How to receive comparable proposals

Give every contractor the same brief, the same drawings and the same answers to their questions. Ask them to list assumptions and exclusions. Comparable inputs are the best route to comparable proposals.

Questions clients ask

What documents are most useful?
Plans of the space, any previous fit-out drawings, photographs, building rules and your finish or brand standards.

Do I need a final design before asking?
No. A clear brief and honest open questions are enough to start.

How SADEED uses your brief

SADEED turns the brief into a verified scope after a site visit, states its assumptions and acknowledges every enquiry within one business day.

Ready to send your brief?

Related guides

Last reviewed: October 2026. This guide is general information; requirements vary by property, scope and authority.

Scroll to Top