How to Read a Builder Quote
A builder quote arrives with a total on the front page. That total is not the cost of your project. It is the cost of what the builder chose to include.
A builder quote arrives with a total on the front page. That total is not the cost of your project. It is the cost of what the builder has chosen to include — which is not always the same as what you need built.
Prime Cost Items and Provisional Sums
Prime Cost Items are allowances for finishes and fittings where the final price is unknown at quote stage — you pay the actual cost when selected, plus the builder margin. Provisional Sums are estimates for uncertain work. If actual costs exceed the allowance, you pay the difference plus margin.
What builder quotes routinely exclude
- Landscaping, driveway, and external hardstand
- Swimming pool and pool equipment
- Window furnishings and blinds
- Appliances and loose furniture
- Authority fees — development approval, building approval, engineering certification
- Rock excavation — usually a provisional sum or excluded entirely
- Solar system and battery
- AV, data, and home automation systems
How to compare two quotes properly
Two quotes on the same project may differ by $100,000 — not because one builder is cheaper, but because they have included different things. Normalise both quotes by adding all exclusion costs back before making any comparison.
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