How to compare quotes from tradies

Three quotes for the same job can come back thousands of dollars apart, and the cheapest one is often not the cheapest job. The difference is usually in what each quote includes, not in how greedy anyone is. This guide shows how to line quotes up so you are comparing the same work, and what to ask before you choose.

Start with a clear brief

Tradies can only quote on what you tell them. Before you ask anyone, write down:

• What you want done, in plain words, and what "finished" looks like to you.
• Where it is, and anything that makes access harder: stairs, a tight roof space, no parking, a dog.
• When you need it, and whether that date is fixed.
• Photos. Two or three photos save a site visit for small jobs and make the quote more accurate for big ones.
• What you're supplying, if anything: the tapware, the tiles, the light fittings.

Give every tradie the same brief. If one asks a question that changes the job, pass the answer on to the others. Otherwise you will get three quotes for three different jobs.

Line them up on the same things

Put the quotes side by side and check each of these. A gap on any line is a question to ask, not a reason to rule someone out.

1. Scope. Does each quote list the same work? One may include removing the old fittings, patching the plaster and taking the rubbish away; another may stop at "install".
2. Exclusions and assumptions. A good quote says what it doesn't include. "Does not include repairs to damaged wiring found behind the wall" is honest; silence on it just means the argument happens later.
3. Materials. Are brands and quality named, or is it "supply fittings"? A cheaper quote with cheaper parts is a different product.
4. The total price, including GST. Under the Australian Consumer Law a price shown to a consumer should be a single total that includes GST and other compulsory charges (the ACCC explains this in its pricing guidance). If one quote says "+ GST", add 10% before comparing.
5. Fixed or estimated. A fixed price is the price. An hourly estimate can grow. If it's hourly, ask for the rate, a likely range and what would push it up.
6. Deposit and payment terms. How much up front, and when is the rest due? A small deposit for materials is normal; a large deposit before any work starts is worth questioning.
7. Timing. When can they start, and how long will it take?
8. How long the quote stands. Material prices move, so most quotes expire after a few weeks.

Check the business, not just the price

• Licence. Electrical, plumbing and gas work need a licensed tradesperson everywhere in Australia, and building work above a value threshold does in most states. Our guide to checking a tradie's licence shows where to look it up.
• The right licence for this job. Our licence guides set out the rule in each state for electricians, plumbers, gasfitters, builders and carpenters.
• Insurance. Ask about public liability insurance.
• A real business. A business name, an ABN you can look up, and a phone number someone answers.
• Similar work. Photos of jobs like yours, or a customer you can call.
• How they communicate. The way someone handles the quote is a fair preview of how they will handle the job.

Deposits: how much is too much?

For small jobs, a deposit to cover materials the tradie has to order is normal. For residential building work, some states set a limit, and some require a written contract above a value. In New South Wales, for example, the government's guidance on building contracts says work over $5,000 including GST needs a written contract, a job over $20,000 needs a more detailed one, and the deposit can't be more than 10%.

If one quote asks for far more up front than the others, ask why, and check your state's rule first. Our guide to builder deposit limits by state sets them out side by side.

When the cheapest quote is right, and when it isn't

A low quote is fine when the scope, materials and exclusions match the others and the business checks out. It is a warning when it is low because it leaves things out, assumes the easy version of the job, or comes with a large deposit and no paperwork.

If one quote is far above the rest, ask why before you rule it out. It may include something the others missed, and that something may be the thing you would have paid for later as a variation.

Once you've chosen

• Accept in writing, so you both have the version you agreed to.
• Agree how changes are handled. If extra work is found, it should be quoted and approved before it is done.
• Keep the quote with the invoice. The invoice should match what was quoted, plus any approved changes.
• Tell the others. A short "thanks, we've gone with someone else" is a courtesy that tradies remember.

If the job goes wrong

The quote you accepted is your best evidence. If the work isn't what was agreed, raise it with the tradie in writing first, listing each problem and giving them a reasonable time to fix it. If that fails, each state has a place to complain; our licence guide explains how to complain about a tradie in NSW, Victoria and Queensland, and where to start elsewhere.

Getting quotes through BizzMate

On the BizzMate Marketplace you describe the job once, add photos, and businesses near you that do that work send offers: a fixed price, a range, or a request to see the site first. You compare them on one page and choose one. Your name, phone and address go only to the business you choose; the others are told the job has gone. Payment is directly between you and the business.

Post your job for free, or read what tradies are told about what to put on a quote to see the same checklist from the other side.

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. For a dispute about a quote or a job, contact your state's consumer affairs or fair trading office.