How to compare builders' quotes fairly

Getting three quotes is good advice. But when they arrive, they rarely line up. One is a single page with a total, one is twenty pages of line items, and the cheapest is so far below the others that you wonder what is missing. Here is how to compare them properly.

Start with the same information

Quotes can only be compared if every builder priced the same thing. Give each builder:

The same drawings, ideally the approved plans
A written specification or finishes schedule: tiles, sanitaryware, windows, flooring, kitchen, paint
Any engineer’s drawings
The same site visit and the same answers to questions

If the specification is vague, each builder will fill the gaps with their own assumptions, and the totals will reflect those assumptions rather than real differences in price.

Check what is included and excluded

Read the inclusions and exclusions line by line. Common items that appear in one quote and not another:

Demolition and rubble removal
Scaffolding
Electrical, plumbing and waterproofing (sometimes excluded as “by others”)
Kitchen, built-in cupboards and stone tops
Painting
External works, paving and boundary walls
Compliance certificates, such as electrical and plumbing certificates of compliance
NHBRC enrolment for new homes
Site establishment, toilets and security

A quote that leaves out painting and plumbing is not cheaper. It is incomplete.

Look at the provisional sums

Provisional sums are allowances for items that have not been chosen or measured yet, for example “tiles supply: R250/m²” or “sanitaryware allowance: R60,000”. Low allowances make a quote look cheaper, but you will pay the difference once you choose. Compare the allowances, and adjust them to what you actually expect to spend.

Understand the contract and payment terms

How will you pay? A reasonable schedule is linked to work completed, not to dates. Be cautious of large deposits; we wrote about what a fair payment schedule looks like. Check whether the builder works under a recognised contract such as the JBCC agreements (explained here).

Compare the programme

How long does each builder say the work will take? A much shorter programme may sound attractive, but ask how they will achieve it. A realistic programme is a sign the builder understands the job.

Warning signs

A price far below the others with no clear explanation
No breakdown, only a total
Pressure to sign quickly or pay a large deposit
No proof of registration (NHBRC for new homes), no insurance and no references
Unwillingness to put things in writing

Look beyond the price

Visit a recent project. Speak to past clients. Ask who will run your site day to day. The cheapest builder is often not the cheapest by the end of the project, once variations, delays and remedial work are counted.

Our quotes

We price from drawings and a specification, list what is included and excluded, and show provisional sums clearly so you can compare like for like. If you have drawings ready, send them to us for a quote.