Three quotes is the standard advice for any job over a few hundred dollars, and the standard advice is right. The catch is that comparing three quotes is harder than it sounds. Tradies don’t quote to a standard format. One includes materials, one doesn’t, one has a line item called “sundries” that might cover anything from screws to a whole sheet of plasterboard. The cheapest number on the page isn’t always the cheapest job, and it definitely isn’t always the best value.
Here’s how to compare quotes properly, without ending up annoyed at everyone involved.
Get them all quoting the same job
Before you invite anyone round, write down the scope yourself. What’s the job, what finishes do you want, what do you supply versus what should they supply, what’s the timeframe, who’s clearing the site at the end. Give the same written brief to every tradie. If you let each one define the scope, you’ll get three quotes for three different jobs, and comparing them is pointless. A clear brief also tells tradies you’re organised, which tends to get you better pricing.
Line up the inclusions, not just the totals
Open the three quotes side by side and look at what’s in each one. Does the quote include removal of the old unit? Does it include making good the wall behind it? Does it include the tiling, or just the plumbing? Is GST already in the number or added on top? Nine times out of ten, the “cheap” quote isn’t actually cheap. It’s just quoting a smaller slice of the work, and the rest will land as extras once the job starts.
If the inclusions aren’t clear, ring the tradie and ask. Don’t assume. A quick five-minute call clears up most of it, and the way they answer the call tells you something about how they’ll handle the job.
Ask how variations are priced
Variations are the part of the quote that eats your budget if you’re not careful. Every job turns up something the tradie didn’t know about. Hidden water damage, old wiring, a floor that’s nowhere near level. The question isn’t whether variations will happen. It’s how they’ll be priced and approved when they do.
Ask for the hourly rate and the mark-up on materials up-front. Ask whether you need to sign off on variations above a certain dollar amount before the work is done. A tradie who gives you a clear answer here is a tradie who’ll send you a clear variation at the end of the week. A tradie who waves it off with “we’ll sort it as we go” is a tradie whose final invoice will shock you.
Compare the dates, not just the dollars
A cheap quote that can’t start for six months may be worse value than an expensive quote that can start in three weeks. This depends on the job. If your kitchen is gutted, every day without it running is a cost. If it’s a deck replacement before next summer, you can afford to wait for the good tradie. Put the start date and finish date in the comparison alongside the total. It’s part of the price.
Look at the track record, not just the number
The number on the quote isn’t the full picture. The tradie’s review record is the other half. A tradie who consistently finishes on time, handles variations fairly, and leaves a tidy site is worth more than a cheaper quote from a business that’s done three jobs total. Look at their Reviewey profile. Look at how they respond to reviews, including the less flattering ones. That tells you more about how a job with them will feel than any line item in a quote.
Watch for the too-cheap quote
If one quote is significantly lower than the other two, treat it as a question, not a win. Either the tradie has genuinely found a way to do it cheaper, or they’ve misread the scope, or they’re priced to win the job and then make it back on variations, or they’re cutting corners somewhere. Call them and ask. A confident, well-run business can explain where the savings are coming from. An evasive answer usually means there’s no answer.
Don’t just pick the middle one
Most people default to the middle quote as a kind of compromise. Sometimes the middle quote really is the right answer. Often it’s just the safest-feeling one. Decide based on what each quote actually includes, the timeline, and the track record. If the top quote is worth it, pay it. If the cheap one stacks up under real scrutiny, take it. Don’t pick the middle one on autopilot.
Be honest with the ones you don’t pick
Once you’ve decided, tell the other two. A quick message saying thanks for the quote but you’ve gone with someone else is worth doing. Tradies spend real time preparing quotes, and they remember which customers were straight with them and which ghosted. The message takes thirty seconds, and it builds your Passport. It’s also just decent.