Sample quote check
Three builders quoted the same knockdown rebuild. This is the kind of comparison we'd send you.
The short answer
Builder A looks $103,500 cheaper than Builder C. Once you add the work A leaves out or under-prices, the difference is only $20,000, and A's payment terms need fixing before you'd sign.
Quotes, line by line
Example figuresScroll sideways to see all three builders →
| Item | Builder A | Builder B | Builder C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminaries & insurances | $22,000 | $24,600 | $26,000 |
| Demolition & site clearing | $26,000 | $28,500 | $27,000 |
| Excavation & site works | PS $6,000 | PS $8,000 | $30,000 |
| Stormwater & OSD | Excluded | Excluded | $31,500 |
| Slab, frame & roof to lock-up | $372,000 | $386,000 | $380,000 |
| Fixing & finishes | $198,000 | $214,000 | $205,000 |
| Kitchen appliances | PC $4,000 | PC $6,000 | PC $9,000 |
| Driveway, fencing & landscaping | By owner | By owner | $23,000 |
| Quoted total | $628,000 | $667,100 | $731,500 |
| Missing or under-priced | + $83,500 | + $79,500 | – |
| Real cost, like for like | $711,500 | $746,600 | $731,500 |
- Excavation & site works. Sloping block with rock. A $6–8k allowance won't cover it.
- Stormwater & OSD. Council will require on-site detention. A and B leave it out.
- Kitchen appliances. The owner's chosen appliances cost about $9k.
- Driveway, fencing & landscaping. Left to the owner by A and B, but still has to be paid for.
PS provisional sum: an allowance for work that isn't priced yet. PC prime cost: an allowance for items you choose later. You pay the real cost of both, plus the builder's margin.
What we'd flag
Builder A
- Asks for a 15% deposit. That's above the legal limit in most states (10% in NSW).
- No home warranty insurance certificate supplied yet.
- Lowest price on paper, but the most left out.
Builder B
- Same gaps as A: OSD excluded, low excavation allowance, landscaping by owner.
- Price valid for only 14 days, which pushes you to sign quickly.
Builder C
- Highest price on paper, but the most complete quote.
- Realistic allowances and stormwater included.
- Payment stages match finished work.
Questions to send the builders
Builder A: will you reduce the deposit to the legal limit and provide your insurance certificate?
Builders A and B: please price stormwater and OSD to the engineer's plan.
Builders A and B: what's your excavation allowance based on? Has a geotech report been considered?
All builders: what margin do you add to provisional sums and prime cost items?
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