Start below the bottom line
A quotation is only comparable when the inclusions, quantities, specifications and assumptions are comparable.
A lower total may exclude electrical points, protection, hacking, waterproofing, stone, sanitary ware installation, authority fees, PE works, temporary works, painting preparation, cleaning or defect rectification.
What to check line by line
| Area | Questions worth asking |
|---|---|
| Demolition | What exactly is removed? Disposal included? Protection included? |
| Electrical | How many points? New wiring or extensions? DB works? Decorative fittings excluded? |
| Wet works | Waterproofing system? Screed? Tile allowance? Large-format installation? |
| Carpentry | How many linear feet? What board, finish, hardware and internals? |
| Painting | How much surface preparation? Existing defects made good? |
| Project management | Who coordinates trades, drawings, inspections and defects? |
Allowances can hide big differences
A quotation may include tiles at one allowance and another may assume a very different material level. The same applies to stone, sanitary fittings, hardware, lighting and appliances.
Price also reflects risk
Existing-home renovations contain uncertainty. Concealed services, uneven walls, old waterproofing and undocumented alterations are only discovered when work starts. A good quotation should explain how these unknowns will be handled rather than pretending they cannot exist.
The goal is not the longest quotation. It is a scope clear enough that the owner knows what is being bought.