How to compare tradesperson quotes

Compare quotes on what is included before you compare them on price. Two quotes for the same bathroom can differ by thousands simply because one includes tiling, waste removal and making good while the other assumes you have arranged all three.

Build a simple comparison

Write the four or five things that matter most down the left of a page and each quote across the top. For most jobs those rows are: scope of work, materials and who supplies them, timescale, exclusions, and payment terms. Price is the last row, not the first.

Where quotes usually differ

• Materials specification — mid-range versus budget fittings can change a total dramatically without either quote being wrong.
• Preparation — a decorating quote that includes filling, sanding and priming will beat a cheaper one that does not, every time.
• Making good — plastering and redecoration after pipework or wiring is often a separate line.
• Access and waste — scaffolding, skips and tip runs.
• VAT — a VAT-registered business must add 20% on most domestic work; a smaller business below the threshold will not. Compare the figure you will actually pay.

Why the cheapest is often not the cheapest

A quote that sits well below the others is usually explained by one of three things: something has been left out, cheaper materials have been assumed, or the work has been underestimated and will be revised once it starts. Any of those can be fine if you understand which it is. Ask directly, and ask in writing.

Signs of a quote you can rely on

• It describes the work in specific terms, not one line.
• It states clearly what is excluded.
• It names materials, or gives a stated allowance for them.
• It gives a start window and a duration.
• It sets out payment stages and what the guarantee covers.
• It carries the business name, contact details and VAT number where applicable.

Then judge the person

If two quotes are close, go with the person who communicated better. Responsiveness during quoting is an excellent predictor of responsiveness when there is a snag to fix six weeks later.