Contractor Quote Comparison Tool: Compare Builder Bids

Compare up to three builder quotes side by side: the total, VAT, build time, warranty and what each price leaves out. The lowest total is not always the cheapest once the missing items are added. Your figures stay on your device or in your own house project.

How to compare quotes

  1. Enter each quote Total, VAT, build time and warranty from each written quote.
  2. Mark what is included Missing items are often the real difference between prices.
  3. Compare and choose See the spread, the gap to your estimate and what is missing, then choose.

Included in the price?

  • Permits and fees
  • Utility connections
  • Waste removal
  • Landscaping and paving
  • Floors, tiles and paint
  • Kitchen
  • Contractor's insurance
  • Bank guarantee or bond

Ask before you sign

  1. What exactly is included, and what is not — in writing?
  2. Who holds the permit and the insurance, and can I see them?
  3. What is the payment schedule, and is each payment tied to a finished stage?
  4. How are changes and extras priced?
  5. What is the warranty, and how long is the defects period?
  6. Can I talk to two recent clients and see a finished house?

Questions about contractor quotes

How many quotes should I get from contractors?

At least three written quotes for the same drawings and specification, so the prices can be compared line by line.

Why are contractor quotes so different?

They often include different things: utility connections, landscaping, finishes, waste removal or permits. Put the quotes on the same basis before you compare the totals.

Is the cheapest quote the best?

Not necessarily. A low total that leaves items out costs more by the end. Check what is included, the warranty and the payment schedule.

Should the quotes include VAT?

Compare all quotes either with VAT or without it. Mixing the two makes a quote look cheaper by the whole VAT rate.

Next step

A comparison of the figures you enter, not legal or financial advice.