By Edwin Kyalo Mbuvi | Construction Ideas
How to Compare Construction Quotations Before Hiring a Contractor
By Edwin Mbuvi | Construction Ideas
Two construction quotations can show very different prices for what appears to be the same building. The difference may come from materials, quantities, labour, exclusions or assumptions about the work.
Before hiring a contractor, compare what each quotation actually includes. This checklist helps homeowners organise that comparison and identify questions to ask before committing.
1. Give Every Contractor the Same Information
Ask contractors to price the same drawings, specifications and scope of work. Record the drawing versions supplied so everyone works from the same documents.
If one contractor prices a complete house while another prices only the structure, their totals cannot be compared directly.
Ask: Which drawings and specifications is this quotation based on?
2. Check the Scope of Work
Look for a clear breakdown of the work covered. Depending on your project, this could include:
- Site preparation and excavation.
- Foundations and structural work.
- Walling and roofing.
- Plumbing and electrical installations.
- Doors, windows and finishes.
- Drainage and external works.
Mark anything missing or described vaguely. Ask for clarification in writing.
Ask: What work will remain unfinished when this contract is completed?
3. Compare Material Specifications
A description such as “floor tiles” does not explain the quality, dimensions or price allowance being offered.
Compare the specifications for each major material. Check whether quotations include supply, delivery and installation, and confirm who approves substitutions.
Materials affecting structural performance should follow the appropriate professional’s specifications.
Ask: Are the quoted materials clearly specified, and what happens if they are unavailable?
4. Review Quantities and Units
Check whether each item is measured in square metres, cubic metres, metres, pieces or a lump sum.
Where quantities differ significantly, ask how they were calculated. A quotation may look cheaper because it allows for less work or fewer materials.
For a detailed building project, a quantity surveyor can help review quantities and compare costs.
Ask: Do the quantities cover the full work shown in the drawings?
5. Understand Labour and Equipment Costs
Confirm whether labour is included for every stage. Find out whether specialist installation, scaffolding, equipment hire and site supervision are covered.
Also clarify who supplies tools and temporary site facilities.
Ask: Which labour or equipment costs could be charged separately?
6. Read the Exclusions
Exclusions can make a substantial difference to your final spending. Look for items such as transport, utility connections, waste removal, fencing, paving or landscaping.
Confirm whether applicable taxes are included in the quoted total.
Ask: What additional costs should I budget for outside this quotation?
7. Identify Allowances and Unconfirmed Prices
Some quotations include allowances for items that have not yet been selected or fully defined.
Ask which amounts are estimates, how they will be adjusted and what evidence will support the final cost.
Ask: Which parts of the quoted total could change?
8. Compare Payment Terms
Review the deposit, payment stages and the work expected before each payment becomes due.
Agree who checks completed work and how payments will be documented. Clarify how deposits for materials will be handled.
Ask: What completed work or supplied materials does each payment cover?
9. Check the Timeline and Change Process
Ask for an expected start date, construction sequence and completion period. Understand assumptions about access, funding and material availability.
Agree how changes will be priced and approved before additional work begins.
Ask: How will a design change affect both the price and completion date?
10. Check the Contractor’s Relevant Experience
Request examples of comparable projects and references you can contact. Check relevant registration and current licences.
A detailed quotation is useful, but it should be considered alongside the contractor’s ability to deliver the agreed work.
Ask: Can previous clients confirm the contractor’s workmanship, communication and handling of changes?
Make a Simple Comparison Sheet
Put each contractor’s answers side by side. Compare scope, materials, quantities, exclusions, payment terms and timelines before comparing the final totals.
A higher quotation may include work another contractor has excluded. A lower quotation may still offer good value when its scope is complete and clearly explained.
Choose with a clear understanding of what you are buying. Keep the agreed quotation, drawings and specifications with the signed contract.
For help preparing the project brief, read our guide to planning your first home build on Construction Ideas.