Two building quotes can look similar while covering different work. Before comparing the totals, check whether both contractors have priced the same drawings, specification and assumptions. This is useful for a house refurbishment in Hove, an extension in Brighton or a commercial fit-out elsewhere in Sussex.
Give each contractor the same information
Use one current set of drawings and a written scope. List the documents and revision dates so everyone knows which information applies. If a detail changes during the enquiry, share the update with everyone pricing the work. Otherwise, the apparent price difference may simply reflect different instructions.
Identify areas that have not been investigated and choices that remain open. A contractor should be able to explain how those uncertainties have been treated. A fixed-looking total does not make an undefined part of the work fully resolved.
Check inclusions and exclusions
Work through the project from preparation to handover. Ask what is included for site access, protection of retained areas, temporary arrangements, waste removal, making good and final finishes. For an extension or conversion, check the associated work within the existing building as well as the new space.
For a commercial project, discuss operational constraints, phased access and any work outside normal trading hours. For a home that remains occupied, clarify how the proposed scope addresses shared routes and areas that need to stay usable. These arrangements should be understood before comparing prices.
Understand allowances and client purchases
Ask which items are fully specified and which are allowances. Clarify the basis of each allowance and how the final cost will be established. If you plan to supply fixtures or equipment, record who is responsible for ordering, delivery, storage, installation and checking compatibility.
Keep a comparison sheet with the quoted amount, stated VAT treatment, exclusions, allowances and unresolved questions. Where something appears omitted, ask for clarification rather than assuming it is included or adding a guessed figure yourself.
Discuss the programme and changes
Compare the assumptions behind the proposed programme, including access, design decisions, approvals and material availability. Ask which client decisions are needed before work starts and which are needed during construction. A programme should make those dependencies understandable.
Ask how changes will be described, priced and agreed, and how their effect on timing will be recorded. Before appointment, the scope, payment arrangements and responsibilities should be clear in the proposed agreement. Obtain appropriate professional advice on anything you do not understand.
Compare the team and the handover
Ask who will be your contact, how progress will be communicated and how questions are resolved. Look at relevant project records and references, not only the size of past projects. The most useful evidence explains comparable work, constraints and the role the contractor actually performed.
Clarify what completion and handover include: agreed inspections, outstanding items, operating information and relevant documents. These details help you compare the full service as well as the construction price.
Questions to resolve before choosing
- Are the same drawings, specification and work areas included?
- Which costs are fixed, which are allowances and which items are excluded?
- Who supplies and installs each item, and who coordinates the interfaces?
- What assumptions affect the start date, sequence and completion?
- How are changes, payments, progress updates and handover handled?
A quantity surveyor can help organise a cost comparison and identify questions to resolve. The aim is an informed decision based on a clear scope and delivery approach, rather than the lowest headline number alone.