Comparing builders
Compare builder quotes on scope, not on the headline price
Two quotes for the same job are rarely for the same job. Put them on the same footing first — inclusions, exclusions, VAT, specification, payment terms — and the comparison becomes straightforward.
Scoring sheets built for side-by-side comparison — £9.99 · Short printable checklist pack, no cost
At a glance
- What this helps with
- Putting two to four builder quotes on the same footing so a price comparison actually means something.
- Best for
- UK homeowners holding several quotes for the same extension, renovation or external works project.
- What you get
- • A scope-first comparison framework
- • How to normalise inclusions and exclusions
- • Where VAT quietly distorts a comparison
- • Specification and materials questions
- • A scorecard structure you can fill in yourself
- Important disclaimer
- The Builder's Brief UK provides practical homeowner guidance only. It is not legal, financial, architectural, structural engineering, planning or building-control advice. Always use suitably qualified professionals where required.
Normalise the quotes before you compare them
Write the same list of work stages down the page, then fill in what each builder has priced. Blanks are the finding.
- Same scope list for every quote, in your words
- Mark each item as included, excluded, an allowance, or not mentioned
- Restate every price on the same VAT basis
- Convert labour-only lines into a comparable total by adding your supply costs
- Note provisional sums separately — they are not fixed money
A simple comparison framework
Score each quote against these headings yourself. There is no league table here and no data about individual builders.
- Scope completeness: how much of your list is described
- Clarity: can you tell what you are buying without asking?
- Specification: are materials and finishes named or left open?
- VAT and totals: is the real all-in figure clear?
- Payment terms: stage-linked and proportionate?
- Programme: realistic start window and duration
- Assurance: insurance, references, relevant experience and recent similar work
- Communication: how questions were answered during the quoting process
Where comparisons usually go wrong
- Comparing a VAT-inclusive price with a VAT-exclusive one
- Treating a provisional sum as a fixed price
- Ignoring that one quote includes the kitchen and another does not
- Choosing the lowest figure that happens to describe the least work
- Assuming an earlier start date is worth more than a clearer scope
Questions worth asking all builders
- What is excluded from this price?
- Which figures are allowances rather than fixed?
- Is VAT included, and how will it appear on invoices?
- How are changes priced once work has started?
- What insurance do you carry for work of this type?
- Can I see a recent project of a similar type?
How to run the comparison
1. Write your own scope list
One row per stage of work, in your words, before you look at any quote.
2. Map each quote onto your list
Included, excluded, allowance or silent. Do not fill gaps with assumptions.
3. Put all prices on one VAT basis
Then add your own supply costs where a quote is labour only.
4. Ask the same questions to everyone
Send identical questions so the answers are comparable too.
5. Score, then decide
Weigh scope completeness and clarity alongside price rather than after it.
Next step
Scoring sheets built for side-by-side comparison — £9.99
Compare quotes with the Quote Checker PackCommon questions
How many builder quotes should I get?
Why are my builder quotes so different?
Should I always pick the cheapest quote?
How do I compare a labour-only quote with a full supply-and-fit quote?
Can you tell me which builder to choose?
Also useful
The Builder's Brief UK provides practical homeowner guidance only. It is not legal, financial, architectural, structural engineering, planning or building-control advice. Always use suitably qualified professionals where required.