Renovation budget: how to compare quotes

The first thing to check is whether the quotes cover the same quantities — square metres of screed, linear metres of tiling, the number of sockets and switches, the number of doors. If one quote is cheaper but lists fewer items or smaller quantities, it is not better value — it simply covers less work.

• Ask for a breakdown by room, not just a total figure.
• Check the units of measurement — square metres, linear metres, units — match between quotes.
• Check whether labour and material items are separated or shown as a single figure.

The word 'tiles' or 'paint' in a quote says nothing about the quality and price of the specific product. A good quote states a brand, grade, or at least a price range for the material the contractor has calculated against. Without a specification, there is a risk that choosing a pricier material later produces an unplanned extra charge.

It helps to formalise this logic in a bill of quantities, where every item has a quantity, a unit price, and an on-site specification.

Check explicitly whether the quoted figure includes VAT or not — the difference between two quotes can come entirely from this, not from a real difference in labour cost. Also compare whether the quotes include removal of construction waste, transport of materials, and temporary storage, if the renovation is in a location with restricted access.

• VAT — included or added separately.
• Waste removal — whose responsibility and at what cost.
• Logistics — parking, lift use, carrying materials to the floor, working hours under the building's rules.

A good quote states a warranty period for the completed work and the conditions under which it applies — for example, who is responsible if a waterproofing problem appears a few months later. Also check the payment schedule: it is sensible for payments to follow the progress of the work rather than being concentrated upfront.

Advance payment and staged acceptance of work are covered in more detail in choosing a building contractor.

In this hypothetical example, the apparently cheaper Quote A actually ends up more expensive once VAT is added. Without asking the question directly, the difference stays hidden.

The most common mistake is choosing a contractor based only on the lowest total, without checking why it is lower — usually because an item, quantity, or specification is missing, not because the contractor works cheaper for the same scope. Another common mistake is not requesting a written quote at all and relying instead on a verbal estimate of 'roughly around' a figure.

• Not comparing unit against unit, only total figures.
• Accepting a verbal quote with no quantities or specifications.
• Not asking explicitly about VAT until it is time to pay.

Ask every contractor for the same quote format — item, quantity, unit price, material, VAT status. Only then is the comparison fair. If a contractor refuses to itemise the quote, that in itself is a signal worth taking into account.