A dripping tap, a broken gate or a mysterious appliance noise can turn into an awkward phone call: What exactly should you ask, and how do you compare two quotes that look completely different? ChatGPT can help you organise your questions before you contact a tradesperson. It cannot tell you whether a quote is fair or a worker is licensed.
What you’ll make
In about 10 minutes, you’ll prepare a short description of the job, a ready-to-send quote request and a checklist for comparing replies. You don’t need to upload private photos or give AI your address.
Five easy steps
- Describe the problem in your own words. For example: “The kitchen tap drips after I turn it off.” Avoid guessing what part needs replacing.
- Write down the basics. Is it urgent? Can the worker access the area easily? Are there preferred days for a visit?
- Use the prompt below. Let ChatGPT ask questions one at a time and draft a message. Remove anything it has guessed.
- Ask each business for a written quote. Check whether inspection or call-out fees apply, what is included, whether materials and GST are covered, and when the work could happen.
- Compare like with like. Note differences in scope, exclusions, total cost, payment terms and warranty information. Confirm important details with the businesses directly.
Copy-and-paste ChatGPT prompt
Help me prepare a clear, polite request for a quote for a home repair in Australia. Ask me one question at a time about the problem, the work I want quoted, my preferred timeframe and any access considerations. Do not ask for my full address, phone number, photographs containing personal information or payment details. Then write: (1) a short message I can send to a tradesperson, (2) five questions about what the quote includes, call-out fees, materials, timing and warranties, and (3) a simple checklist I can use to compare written quotes. Do not invent prices, licences, availability or legal requirements. Flag anything I need to verify directly.
A practical example: a dripping kitchen tap
This is a fictional example. Priya is renting a unit and notices her kitchen tap dripping even when it is fully turned off. Before arranging work, she checks her rental agreement and contacts her property manager to confirm the appropriate repair process. If she is authorised to seek quotes, she can use ChatGPT to organise a message such as:
Hello, I’m seeking a written quote for a kitchen tap that continues dripping after being turned off. Could you please let me know whether there is an inspection or call-out fee, what information you need before quoting, and your approximate availability? Please also clarify whether the quoted amount includes parts, labour and GST. Thank you.
The message is clear without pretending to know the cause. If a quote only covers an inspection and another includes the repair, Priya knows they are not directly comparable.
Questions worth checking before you agree
- Is this a fixed price, an estimate, or just an inspection fee?
- What work, parts, labour and GST are included, and what is excluded?
- What happens if additional work is needed?
- What payment terms and written warranty details apply?
- Can I verify the business’s identity, qualifications and any licence required for this work?
Privacy, safety and fact-checking
Keep your full address, access codes, phone number, invoices and payment information out of AI prompts. Share those details directly with a business only when appropriate. AI can produce confident but incorrect statements about prices, safety rules and licensing. Verify licensing and consumer information with your state or territory’s official regulator. In NSW, start with NSW Government’s licence-check guidance. For urgent electrical hazards, gas leaks or dangerous water damage, seek appropriate professional or emergency help rather than relying on a chatbot.
Try another everyday AI helper
Once you’ve practised writing a quote request, explore more beginner-friendly prompts in the Everyday AI Simplified Free AI Resources library. Start small: one useful task, one clearer question, one less stressful job.
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