Everyone tells you the same thing when you’re trying to pick a builder: “Just compare the quotes apples to apples.” Sounds logical. But in reality, it’s impossible Comparing Builder Quotes and it could cost you big.
Look, a quote isn’t just a price.
It’s a proposal for how your home is actually going to be built. Sometimes, they’re crystal-clear. Other times, they’re riddled with hidden traps.
So when you’ve got two or three quotes in front of you, instead of just looking at the number at the bottom, it’s really important to pay attention to these 4 things.
Focus point #1: Are they even pricing the same job?
People will say they’ve got three quotes for the same house, but quite often they haven’t. They’ve got three quotes for something that looks similar.
Similar style, similar size, similar layout, same number of bedrooms. Then you zoom in, and the scope is often very different (even when the builders are working off the same drawings).
One builder might price strictly to the drawings. Another might price to a looser interpretation of the brief. Another might be leaving things out and thinking, “We’ll sort that out later.”
In a perfect world, the exact same plans and the exact same specifications would be priced up every time. In reality, that’s very hard to achieve.
But the closer you can get to that, the more meaningful the comparison becomes.
Focus point #2: How much detail is given, and what’s left vague?
This is a big one.
Not everything in a quote needs to be explained in detail, but the important stuff should be. Whenever something feels vague or confusing, it’s worth asking about it.
For instance, you might see phrases like “standard inclusions” or “builder’s standard” or “as per plan.” These could mean one thing for one builder and something completely different for another.
Keep an eye out for umbrella terms like “site works,” too. What does this actually mean?
One builder might say, “Look, we’ll dig the site. Throw a bit of dirt over the top. She’ll be right.” Another builder might say, “We’ve done the site inspection. There’s a 400mm fall across the block, and we need to deal with that properly before we do anything else.”
Big difference.
You might also see very specific items like “waterproofing” listed with no detail at all. If it doesn’t clearly say a specialists doing it, it might mean the builder’s doing it themselves to save a few hundred bucks.
And when the waterproofing fails, guess who’s on the hook? You.
The takeaway: when a description is vague, it’s possible something’s being intentionally hidden from you.
Focus point #3: Which parts of the price can still change?
A prime cost item is an allowance for something you haven’t chosen yet. It’s a placeholder. The builder puts a number in so the quote can move forward, but the final cost depends on what you actually select later.
A provisional sum is an allowance for work where the builder can’t be certain of the cost yet. Usually because the full scope isn’t known until the job starts.
In both cases, the number in the quote is not a fixed price. It’s an estimate.
That’s the important part.
When you’re comparing builder quotes, you need to look closely at how many of these allowances there are. If a lot of the build cost is made up of prime costs and provisional sums, then a lot of the price is still up in the air.
And usually, the price goes up, not down.
Focus point #4: Which trades are actually doing the work?
If you’re not in the industry and I tell you I use one plumber and another builder uses a different plumber, you’d probably say, “Okay, so what? They’re both plumbers.”
But they’re not the same.
That’s why a builder should be upfront about their preferred trades and suppliers. After the first meeting, you should be able to get a list of who they actually work with.
Then it’s on you to do your homework, because not all trades are equal, and you obviously want the best for your home.
Get on Google. Read reviews. Ask around. What are these people like? Are they just the cheapest option someone’s using, or are they actually good at what they do?
You really aren’t just choosing a builder. You’re choosing their whole team.
To be honest, comparing builder quotes this way can be hard
That’s why most people just compare things on the surface. Boom, there’s a price, and that’s what they run with.
That might be fine when you’re buying a TV or picking a phone plan, but this is your home.
You want to get it right.
Of course, there’s a lot more to finding the right builder than what we’ve covered here today. That’s why I’ve created this free guide for you to download:
Build with Confidence: 7 Things You Must Know Before Designing a New Home
It’s packed with practical advice to help you ask the right questions, spot red flags early, and plan your build with confidence.
Because once you know what to look for in a builder, you’re already halfway to building your home the right way.
Get to know the man behind your dream home, Norm. Norm Wales Constructions is honored to be APB, and MBA members.
