Appliance repair quote approved at the washer

What an appliance repair estimate should show

This appliance repair quote template separates the diagnosis from the repair, so the customer approves the part and labor once you know what is wrong. The sample covers a front load washer that will not drain: call out and diagnosis, a new drain pump, an hour of labor and an optional door seal. Fill it in on site with the free quote maker and hand over a PDF before you order parts.

A repair quote for an appliance should show the diagnosis fee, the fault you found, the part by number, the labor, and whether the repair is worth it given the machine’s age. Customers decide quickly at the door, and a clear page helps them approve the fix before you pack up your meter.

1. Appliance detailsBrand, model and serial number, so the part matches the exact revision and any warranty can be checked.
2. Fault foundA one line diagnosis in plain words, such as drain pump seized, filter clear, error code confirmed.
3. Diagnosis or service call feeThe call out and diagnosis charge, and whether it is deducted from the repair if the customer goes ahead.
4. Parts by part numberOEM or aftermarket, the part number and price, and whether it is on the van or needs ordering.
5. LaborHours or a flat repair rate, plus a second visit if the part has to be ordered in.
6. Repair or replace noteIf the repair cost comes close to a new machine, say so plainly on the quote. Honest advice brings the next call.
7. Optional repairsWorn parts spotted during the job, such as a torn door boot or a cracked dryer belt, offered as optional lines.
8. Warranty on parts and laborFor example 90 days on your labor, with the part maker’s warranty on the part itself.
9. Sealed system workOn fridges and freezers, note when the fault is in the sealed refrigerant system, which needs a technician certified under EPA Section 608.

Sample appliance repair estimate: washer will not drain

The sample is a front load washer that will not drain. Lines run in job order: call out and diagnosis as one visit, a replacement drain pump as materials, and one hour of repair labor. A door seal replacement is offered as an optional extra, so the $305 subtotal leaves it out until the customer agrees. No deposit applies. Treat every figure as an example.

Edit the Fixright Appliances quote

4 lines are filled in, from call out and diagnosis to door seal replacement. Put in your own appliance repair rates, then download the PDF.

Open the appliance repair sample

How to price appliance repairs

Appliance techs usually charge a service call and diagnosis fee, then a flat rate repair price or hourly labor plus parts. Flat rate repair books are popular because customers want a firm number at the door, and they reward experienced technicians who finish quickly.

1. Service call plus flat repairA diagnosis fee, then a set price per repair type (drain pump, igniter, door switch) that includes labor. The part may be included or listed on its own.
2. Service call plus hourlyDiagnosis fee and labor by the hour or quarter hour, plus parts. Useful for intermittent faults and older machines with no service manual.
3. Diagnosis deducted from the repairCharge the diagnosis, then deduct it if the customer approves the repair. It encourages approval and still pays for declined visits.
4. Warranty and contract workRates set by a manufacturer or a service contract company, with their paperwork, kept separate from your private customers’ quotes.

Parts markup has to cover ordering, returns and the second trip. Set it with the markup calculator, and keep a rate card of your flat repair prices so every tech quotes the same figure.

Worked example: repair or replace on a front load washer

1. Price the repairCall out and diagnosis $95, drain pump $120, and 1 hr of labor at $90: $305 before tax.
2. Add the optional sealIf the customer also wants the torn door seal replaced, $305 + $140 = $445.
3. Compare with a new machineSay a comparable new washer would cost the customer $900 installed. The repair is $305 / $900, about 34% of that.
4. Apply a rule of thumbMany techs use the 50% guide: if a repair costs more than half the price of a new appliance and the machine is old, suggest replacing it. At about 34%, this repair makes sense.
5. Show the deduction if you offer oneIf your policy deducts the $95 diagnosis when the repair goes ahead, the repair price shown is $210, and the quote should say so.

Part prices, the machine’s age and whether the part is in stock all change the numbers. If a part must be ordered, quote the second visit or fold it into the repair price.

Appliance repair inclusions and exclusions

Appliance repair quote mistakes

• Giving a repair price on the phone before diagnosing, then raising it in front of the customer.
• Not writing down the model and serial number, then ordering the wrong revision of the part.
• Leaving it unclear whether the diagnosis fee is deducted, which starts arguments when customers decline.
• Repairing an old machine for close to replacement cost without telling the customer.
• Forgetting the second trip when a part has to be ordered.
• Not noting a separate problem, like a house drain that backs up, which then gets blamed on your repair.