How to check a tradie quote before you accept it
Most quote problems are not about the price. They are about what the quote does not say. When a job goes wrong, it is usually because the scope was vague, the inclusions were unclear, or an assumption surfaced late as a variation. Checking a quote properly means checking it for completeness before you compare it on price.
What a complete quote contains
A quote you can rely on describes the work specifically: what is being done, where, and how much of it. It lists what is included and what is excluded, names the key materials rather than bundling everything into one figure, states how variations will be priced and approved, gives timing and working hours, sets out the payment schedule, and covers warranty terms. It does not need to be long. It needs to be specific.
The gaps that cause disputes
The same gaps appear across trades, and they are the ones that turn into arguments once work starts:
- Scope described as "as discussed" or "fix up". If the work is not written down, there is nothing to hold the price to.
- Assumptions and allowances. Phrases like "assumes sound substrate" or "allowance for tiles" mean parts of the price are provisional. If the assumption fails, the price moves.
- Missing exclusions. A quote that lists inclusions but no exclusions has not told you where the edges are.
- No variation process. If the quote does not say how extra work is priced and approved, that gets decided later, under pressure.
- Open-ended timing. "As required" timing makes delay someone else's problem, and that someone is usually you.
Questions to ask before you agree
Ask the tradie to confirm in writing: exactly what is included and excluded; what happens if a stated assumption turns out to be wrong; how variations are priced and whether they require your written approval; whether waste disposal and making good are included; and what the payment schedule is tied to.
A professional tradie answers these questions easily. Hesitation on any of them is information.
FAQ
Should I just get more quotes to compare?
More quotes help, but three vague quotes are no easier to compare than one. Comparing quotes only works when each quote is specific enough to be held to. Check each one for completeness first.
Is the cheapest quote a red flag?
Not by itself. A lower price with a specific, complete scope can simply be a sharper price. A lower price with a vague scope may just be missing the items that get added later.
What is SecondQuote?
SecondQuote is an Australian tool that checks a trade quote for clarity and completeness. You paste or upload the quote, and it tells you how clearly the quote defines the work, what is missing, and what to ask before you accept. Your first check is free. It does not tell you whether a price is fair, and it does not recommend tradies.
Check a quote now.
Paste it in, and see in under two minutes how clearly it defines the work. Your first check is free.
Check a quoteSecondQuote provides indicative guidance only. It does not provide pricing advice or recommendations.
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