Send one consistent brief
Give each builder the same current drawings, specification and list of owner-supplied items. Keep track of later answers so one person is not pricing information another has never seen. Consumer Protection recommends detailed written quotes or estimates. Make sure you know which kind of price you have received and what it covers.
Read the quotes side by side
| Check | Write beside each quote | Question if it differs |
|---|---|---|
| Scope and drawing version | The rooms, work and revision being priced. | Are all quotes based on the same brief? |
| Selections and allowances | Specified products and amounts allowed for undecided items. | What is assumed and how is a later choice dealt with? |
| Exclusions | Work, supply or fees outside the price. | Who will arrange and pay for each excluded item? |
| Hidden conditions | Assumptions about concealed parts of the building. | How will findings be recorded and additional work agreed? |
| Timing and completion | Programme assumptions and handover scope. | What must be ready before the start and what defines completion? |
Before accepting a quote
- Confirm the total’s GST treatment.
- Ask for unclear inclusions or exclusions in writing.
- Check whether owner-supplied products also include installation.
- Understand the proposed payment and change process.
- Keep the accepted scope and later agreed changes together.
Resolve a difference before comparing totals
Suppose one bathroom quote includes a fixture allowance and another excludes fixture supply. Ask both to identify installation and connections as well. A useful comparison records all three elements, rather than deciding that the lower headline total is automatically the better fit.
Is an estimate the same as a quote?
No. Consumer Protection distinguishes an approximate estimate from an offer to do specified work for a stated price. Ask what further information would be needed for a quote and how changes would be agreed. Use the written scope to understand the price, not the label alone.
Further reading
Guidance checked 30 September 2026. Confirm the requirements and product information for your own project.