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Building a Home

Is this what a quote should look like?

Naomi Wordsworth

last year

Hi everyone,
We have received a “quote” from our potential builder.
We are a bit confused.
I was wondering if you could take a look and tell me if this is what a building quote is meant to look like?

I cant see any cost breakdowns.
We were quoted a final price of 479,514. However this is not in the document. He only stated that by email.
It just seems like a very informal document..

Should we be worried/ trusting of this quote ?
I’m having a meeting with the builder tomorrow. We haven’t seen many building quotes before and I’m interested to see what your responses to this quote are ?

I’ve attached the quote in the photos. (Address and builder etc excluded for privacy)

Thank you for your advice again!

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Comments (6)

Kate
last year
This is the detailed scope. Check against your plans. Get your architect to check it. Do you have an electrical plan showing all switches and light fittings. Be aware PC costs are basic costs for items and will prob go up once you choose the actual products. Heating and cooling has been excluded as has connection to sewer. Once this list is agreed it will be put with the plans into a hia or similar contract for signing. Get lawyer to check it out. If you can get all your pc cost items selected so you don’t have bill surprise later. It can also slow build. I don’t see kitchen or any joinery wardrobes etc. ceilings should be flat paint not low sheen. As I said get the professionals to check thoroughly for what is missing.
dreamer
last year
This quotation/proposal looks correct. It is clearly stating what is included, what is not, and what are preliminary costings. If you accept this contract, then you will add extra lighting and power points, up spec of kitchen etc etc. this will be contract variations. And new costings will be given for change of item costs, you and the builder should sign off on these variations. I have attached my building proposal/quotation, as an example.
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dreamer
last year
Your contract is a “lump sum building contract”
dreamer
last year
And also note for example. Be aware of “install down lights”etc, and the difference of “supply and install”. This means that YOU will purchase and pay in addition to contract price for all items that are “install” only.
bigreader
last year
The quote details should transferred into a proper building contact for signing. The Consumer Affairs organisation in your State will point you to approved forms of the contact and give you background information.
PRO
Paul Di Stefano Design
last year
last modified: last year
To be fair it depends on specifics and extent of detail of the documentation provided to which the quote has been prepared on. For example if you only gave "plans" ie drawings with general notes, and no accompanying written specification document, then the builder has had to make some assumptions on level of specification provided in the quote and this is relatively loose and open to interpretation and opens up risk of variations....it's not that unusual to see a preliminary quote like this and whilst the general scope has been clarified but don;t expect to see full breakdown of sub trade numbers or margins...well not for a lump sum contract anyway..... Have you had a designer or architect on board or are the drawings basic / drafted with no specification? It looks like the builder has worked to certain details and at the very least it's a reasonable starting point for a conversation but as per other comments ultimately this would form the basis of a formal contract within which all the ins and outs of inclusions and exclusions, who's supplying certain items (such as lights or certain fittings etc ) or not.......

From experience builders strengths are not necessarily in the office and sometimes they let themselves down with the written communication and quotes and emails can seem basic and loose.....yes this stuff needs to be tightened up but more importantly is how they operate and manage themselves on site, with their team, with their clients and whilst documentation, numbers, contract detail etc all need to be tight, accurate and aligned etc the best builder's I work with aren't the ones who are the "office" builders, rather they're the guys with the tool belt and workboots on who are hands on and switched on to the details on-site, physically on the job and managing the project with the end goal of the client being happy with the end result rather than the motive being the profit margin ....the important stuff I'm talking about won;t be written into a contract, rather you need to develop that trust by conversations with them, testimonials from past clients and seeing their past work. Sure get the contract terms tightened but that's relatively straight forward with some professional assistance/advice on board.

Hope this helps

PD

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