Two quotes for the same bathroom can differ by a third. That is usually not one contractor being greedy and the other being generous. It is two people pricing different jobs.
A quote should tell you what work is being done, what is not, and what could still move. Here is what to look for.
The scope of work
This is the part that matters most, and the part most often left thin.
For a bathroom, the scope should cover demolition, rubble removal, plumbing changes, waterproofing, tiling, sanitaryware, painting and finishing. For a kitchen, add electrical changes, wall repairs, flooring and cabinetry coordination.
If it is not written in the scope, do not assume it is coming.
Labour
Renovation work pulls in builders, tilers, painters, plumbers, electricians and waterproofing teams. Some contractors bundle all labour into one figure, others break it out. Both are fine.
What is not fine is a quote where you cannot tell which trades are included at all.
Materials and allowances
Materials move a price faster than anything else. Tiles, taps, sanitaryware, cabinetry, lighting and paint all sit on a wide range.
Ask whether the quote prices actual chosen materials or carries an allowance. An allowance is a placeholder budget, pick something dearer and the price follows. That is not a trap, provided it was explained up front.
Plumbing and electrical work
If anything moves, toilet, shower, basin, plugs, lights, drainage, the quote must say who is doing it and whether it is included, excluded or provisional.
Also ask who coordinates those trades. If the answer is you, that is a job you did not know you had taken on.
Demolition and rubble removal
Regularly forgotten, never free. Stripping out old tiles, cupboards, fittings and damaged plaster takes labour, and the waste has to go somewhere.
Check whether demolition and rubble removal are both in. If they are excluded, find out whose problem they become.
Hidden work
Renovations uncover things. Damp behind a wall, a slow leak, plaster that fails the moment it is touched, previous work that was never done properly.
A quote should say what has been allowed for and what would be treated as a variation if something turns up. Nobody can price the unknown, they can be honest that it exists.
Timelines
The quote should carry a realistic timeline, or at least a clear conversation about one: when work can start, how long it should run, and which decisions are needed from you before anyone lifts a tool.
Exclusions
Exclusions matter as much as inclusions. Expect to see things like specialist reports, council approvals, client-supplied fittings or structural work outside the agreed area.
Clear exclusions are a sign of a careful contractor. Hidden ones are how a cheap quote becomes an expensive job.
Variations
A variation is any change to the agreed scope, your choice or the building’s.
The quotation fixes the price for the agreed scope and stated allowances. Requested changes, hidden conditions or work outside that scope may require a variation. We explain the reason, price and effect on the programme and agree the variation in writing before carrying out the additional work.
Handover
The quote should tell you how the job ends, not just how it starts.
At FN, handover means a detailed inspection, a written snag list closed out properly, and a signed completion certificate recording the state of the work on the day. All work is backed by a 12-month guarantee covering the quality of our workmanship, and we come back 60 days later at no cost to check it has held up.
What a good quote really gives you
Certainty about the scope, honesty about the unknowns, and a clear route for changes.
If a contractor cannot explain what is included, the problem is not the quote. It is what happens when the work starts.
Want a quote that spells this out? Book a free scope and budget visit, we define the scope with you before we price it.
A simple comparison sheet
Use these headings to compare the written offers. This is a scope example, not a quotation or price list.
| Item | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Strip-out and waste | Areas included, protection and disposal |
| Plumbing and electrical | Existing or changed positions, testing and certificates where required |
| Waterproofing and finishes | Specified system, extent, chosen products and allowances |
| Site management | Supervision, access, temporary arrangements and cleaning |
| Total and changes | VAT, exclusions, provisional amounts, payment stages and written variations |
Site visits are free. Standard construction quotations follow a visit and agreement from both sides to explore working together, without committing to the works. Bond or home-loan quotations carry a non-refundable preparation fee agreed before the visit. If FN is appointed subject to bond approval and the bond is approved, that fee counts towards the deposit.