Comparing quotes side by side, not just the bottom line

Start by checking they quoted the same job

Before comparing figures, read each quote for what it actually includes. Does it name the same rooms, the same square meterage, the same fittings? A quote that says 'kitchen refit as discussed' gives you nothing to check against another quote that lists every unit, worktop run and appliance. Ask each builder to confirm scope in writing against the same brief if the documents do not already match up.

Watch for jobs that quietly exclude things homeowners assume are included, such as making good after first fix, disposal of waste, or decorating at the end. A lower figure that excludes skip hire and a higher one that includes it are not actually far apart once you add the missing pieces back in.

If a builder quoted without seeing the property, or without a proper survey of an extension footprint, treat that figure as provisional. A site visit changes numbers once ground conditions, existing services or access problems become clear.

• Match room sizes and areas across all quotes before comparing totals
• Check whether waste disposal and skip hire are included or extra
• Confirm whether decorating and making good are in scope
• Ask what happens if the quote was given without a site visit

Look at how the price is broken down

A single lump sum with no breakdown is hard to interrogate later. A quote broken into stages or trades, labour separated from materials, and any provisional sums flagged clearly, gives you something to check against as the job progresses and gives the builder a fair way to price genuine unknowns without inflating the whole number to cover themselves.

Provisional sums are common and honest where something cannot be priced accurately until it is opened up, such as the condition of a wall behind old plaster or what is found once floorboards come up. What matters is that they are labelled as provisional rather than buried inside a fixed price, which can let a builder quietly cover risk they have not told you about.

Check what is priced as standard versus optional

Two extensions of the same size can carry very different costs depending on the specification behind them: the insulation standard, the window type, the roof covering, the quality of fittings assumed. A lower quote built on a lighter specification is not automatically the worse choice, but you need to know that is what you are comparing before deciding.

Ask each builder to state the specification they have priced against, brand or grade where relevant, so you can weigh whether the saving on one quote reflects a genuinely leaner build or simply a lower-grade material choice you might not be happy with once it is installed.

• Ask what insulation, window and roofing specification is assumed
• Compare fittings and finish grade, not just brand names
• Query any specification gaps between quotes of similar scope
• Get the agreed specification written into the final contract

Payment terms and programme belong in the comparison too

A quote is not just a price, it is a proposed way of running the job. Look at the payment schedule being asked for, how it is staged against work completed, and whether it feels proportionate to the value of work done at each point. Look too at the stated programme, because an unrealistically short timescale can be a warning sign as much as a benefit.

It is reasonable to ask each builder how they sequence the trades, who is on site day to day, and how they would handle something unexpected turning up once work starts. The answers tell you far more about how the job will actually run than the number on the front page.

Trust and communication weigh as much as the number

By the time quotes are in your hand, you have usually already had at least one conversation with each builder. Note how clearly they explained things, whether they answered questions directly, and whether they seemed to actually listen to what you wanted rather than steering you toward what suited them. A slightly higher quote from someone who explained the job properly is often the safer choice over a cheaper one from someone who was vague.

If you are still unsure once the numbers and scopes are lined up, ask each builder the same follow-up questions and compare the answers rather than the price alone. Consistency, clarity and a willingness to put things in writing are worth more than a saving of a few hundred pounds on a job running into the thousands.

Get quotes you can actually compare

The easiest way to make comparison fair is to give every builder the same brief, the same access to the property, and the same list of questions, then insist on a written breakdown rather than a single figure. That puts the decision back in your hands instead of leaving you guessing at what each number actually covers.

If you would like a detailed, itemised quote for an extension, loft conversion or refurbishment in Torbay or South Devon to compare against others you have received, get in touch through our free quote page and we will give you a clear breakdown to weigh up properly.

Common questions