Two building quotes are hard to compare if they include different things. Look beyond the total and check the drawings, materials, fittings, allowances and exclusions behind each price. This checklist will help you ask the right questions.
Send every builder the same information
Use the same dated drawings and list of work, with any revisions clearly identified. Include kitchen and bathroom fittings, finishes and access restrictions. If a decision is still open, say so: a price based on assumptions should make them clear.
Check what is included
Compare preparation, structure, roofing, glazing, plumbing, wiring, finishes and external work. Check who supplies and fits the kitchen, sanitaryware and other selected products. Confirm VAT, professional fees and any work outside the main contract.
Ask about allowances and changes
An allowance is not the same as an agreed price for a selected product. Check it against what you intend to buy, and ask how changes will be priced and approved. A written answer to an unclear item is more useful than choosing the lowest total and hoping it covers everything.
Examples from our completed projects
The Kensington bathroom album includes a checked tiled shower and ledge beside the basin, with pale green finishes. The Fulham Waterford Road project covers a much wider kitchen, loft and refurbishment scope. Their photographs make the difference between a defined room package and a multi-room brief tangible.
Further reading
Planning work on your own home? Discuss your project with us. A few photographs and your postcode are enough to start the conversation.