Is my builder quote too expensive?
The number at the bottom of a building quote is the least informative part of it. Building and carpentry work carries the widest scope variation of any residential trade, and the gap between two quotes is usually a gap in what is included, not a gap in margin. Judge the completeness first; the price only means something after that.
Where building quotes genuinely differ
- Fixing and finishing. Filling, caulking, sanding, and making good are the most commonly excluded items in carpentry and building quotes. A "supply and install" price that excludes finishing is a different job from one that includes it.
- Existing structure. If existing framing turns out to be out of square, rotted, or non-compliant, remediation is almost never in the base price. The National Construction Code sets the standard the finished work must meet, and getting the substrate there is often extra. A quote that prices this risk looks dearer up front and may be cheaper in the end.
- Waste and site clean-up. Skip bins and disposal are frequently excluded, and renovation waste is a recurring source of dispute. A complete quote says who pays for the bin.
- Allowances. Building quotes often carry provisional sums: an "allowance" for fittings, timber, or hardware. Every allowance is a part of the price that can move. The more of the total that sits in allowances, the softer the number is.
How to judge the price
Get the inclusions nailed down in writing first: finishing, existing-structure risk, waste, and the size of any allowances. Then compare quotes on the same scope. A quote that looks expensive against a vague competitor is often just the only one that priced the whole job.
FAQ
Why is one builder's quote so much higher than another's?
Usually scope. Finishing work, structural remediation risk, waste disposal, and allowance sizes are the big movers. Line those four up across your quotes before drawing any conclusion from the totals.
What is a provisional sum or allowance in a building quote?
A placeholder amount for an item not yet finally specified, like fittings or timber grade. The final cost can be higher or lower than the allowance. Ask how each allowance was sized and what happens when actual cost differs.
Can SecondQuote check a building quote?
Yes. Paste or upload the quote and SecondQuote checks how clearly it defines the work, flags common gaps like finishing and waste, and gives you the questions to ask the builder before you commit. Where there is enough information, it also indicates whether the price sits below, within, or above the typical range for that kind of job. The first check is free.
Before you decide the price is the problem, check the quote.
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