Illustrative photograph
Two interior quotations are comparable only when they describe substantially the same work. Begin with the scope, quantities, specifications and exclusions. Then compare the amount payable, the proposed payment stages and how changes will be approved. This approach makes a price difference easier to understand before you appoint a contractor.
Give each quotation the same project brief
Use one floor plan and one room-by-room requirements list. Identify what you want retained, replaced or newly built. If one contractor has priced an extra wardrobe or excluded ceiling work, record that difference before comparing the totals.
Build a comparison table with an “unclear” column
Check | Quotation A | Quotation B | Question to resolve |
|---|---|---|---|
Cabinet dimensions and internal configuration | Record | Record | Are the units equivalent? |
Board, finish and hardware | Record | Record | Are product identities specified? |
Preparation and removal | Record | Record | Who handles existing work? |
Electrical and plumbing scope | Record | Record | Which points and alterations are included? |
Installation and finishing | Record | Record | What does completion include? |
Transport, taxes and other charges | Record | Record | What remains payable outside the total? |
Programme assumptions | Record | Record | When does the stated duration begin? |
Payment and change process | Record | Record | What triggers payment or a revised price? |
Do not fill an unclear entry with an assumption. Send the same question to the contractor and ask for the answer to appear in the revised proposal.
Check the unit as carefully as the rate
A rate needs a measurement basis. Carpet area, cabinet elevation area, running length and number of items are different quantities. Ask how each line is measured and what is included in that unit. A lower rate is not necessarily cheaper when the quantities or included work differ.
Turn material labels into verifiable descriptions
“Good plywood”, “premium finish” and “branded hardware” are not complete specifications. Ask for the agreed grade or product, thickness where relevant, finish and hardware series. Record the approval process if an item becomes unavailable. This gives both parties a clearer reference during procurement and installation.
Understand when the next payment becomes due
Ask how each stage is defined and what you can review at that point. Procurement commitments and completed site work are different events and should not be described interchangeably. The agreement should also explain how additional work is authorised and charged. Obtain appropriate review of contractual terms before signing.
Compare a clarified scope, then make the decision
Once the uncertainties are resolved, compare the revised quotations alongside evidence of similar work, the proposed team and the coordination arrangements. The objective is an appointment you understand: what will be delivered, what remains your responsibility and how unresolved decisions will be handled.
For a home, explore our residential interior service. For business premises, review our commercial fit-out service. You can also read how Roy structures the project process before sending a brief.
