Protecting Margins from Material Price Volatility

Monitor the inputs that matter

BEIS data shows that timber and fabricated steel swing the fastest, while plaster and tile trims tend to lag. Track the big movers weekly and let the rest follow a monthly cadence. The built-in scrapers can ingest merchant bulletins automatically so your allowance tracker stays honest without spreadsheets.

Tag each material line with supplier, project and VAT treatment. When HMRC asks for evidence, you can produce it in two clicks.

• Subscribe to merchant bulletins (Travis Perkins, City Plumbing) for early warnings.
• Log surcharges separately so they do not inflate base unit costs.
• Update your allowances the moment supplier invoices show a +/- 3% swing.

Explain contingencies without losing trust

Clients accept provisional sums when they understand the trigger. Add a short note under each allowance describing the supplier index or delivery risk you are covering. That transparency stops awkward conversations later and demonstrates professionalism.

When a price drops, pass on the saving. QuoteMyBuild's tax-pack download makes it easy to evidence the delta and reinforce that you are on the client's side.

Close the loop with tax packs

Store supplier invoices centrally so every user can download the full tax pack when accounts or HMRC request it. Organising documents by date range keeps you compliant while still giving a reliable spend history for future allowances.