There is a difference between a cheap quote and a good one, and confusing the two is how people overspend on trades in a roundabout way. Chasing the lowest number often lands you on a job that leaves things out, and the difference shows up later as extras, rework and disputes. The goal of getting quotes is not to find the cheapest person. It is to find a fair price for the exact work you agreed.
How many quotes should you get?
For any job of meaningful size, more than one quote is a sensible rule of thumb. Two or three gives you something that one never can, a sense of what a fair price actually looks like. You also get to see how different trades approach the same problem, which is often more revealing than the totals. Some will suggest a fix the others did not think of, or flag a cost another quote quietly skipped.
You do not need to shop five quotes for every small job. Balance the effort with the size of the spend. A big renovation or a job with a large price tag justifies the extra calls; a tiny repair may not be worth more than one. The point is to compare when the money is big enough that it matters.
Compare like for like
The single biggest mistake in comparing quotes is comparing different things and treating the difference as a pricing gap. Before you look at totals, check that all the quotes cover the same scope:
- Is the same work included? One quote may not have included a step, a disposal cost or a consent fee that others did.
- Are materials the same quality? A cheaper number may be built on cheaper materials or a lower finish level.
- Does it include GST? Confirm whether each quoted price is the number you actually pay.
- Are the terms the same? Check timelines, payment stages and what happens on changes.
If one quote is much lower, treat that as a question, not a win. Ask what is different about the scope, materials or guarantees. A genuinely good trade on a genuinely cheaper job exists, but a lazy quote skipped something just as often.
Written vs verbal quotes
For any job that costs more than a small amount, ask for the quote in writing and do not start until you have it. A written quote records the scope, the price, the materials, the timeline and the payment terms, and it is the thing that settles a disagreement before it becomes a dispute.
- A verbal quote is fine for a tiny job where the money is small and the risk is low.
- A written quote is the standard for anything real. If a trade is reluctant to put it in writing, that is a reason for caution, not to reassure you.
Understand what the document you get actually is. There is a practical difference between a firm quote, where the total is fixed, and an estimate, where the price can move if circumstances change. Know which one you have agreed to, and know that a quote that does not describe the work well is not actually protecting you.
Do not confuse a firm price with an open-ended one. If the trade discovers something unexpected, such as a hidden problem behind a wall, the price may legitimately need to change. The protection is agreeing in advance how changes are raised and approved, usually in writing, so there is no surprise at the end.
What to compare beyond the price
A good quote tells you about the person you are hiring as much as the number. Use the quotes to judge more than cost:
- Clarity. Is the scope specific, or vague? Vague suggests problems later.
- Communication. Did they visit and ask questions, or quote blind off a phone call?
- Timeline. Does a realistic start and duration exist, and are they upfront about availability?
- Guarantees. What happens if the work is not right, and is any warranty stated?
The trade that asks good questions and writes a specific scope is often the better hire even if they are not the cheapest. You are buying an outcome and a relationship for the length of the job, not a line item.
How to decide
Once you have comparable quotes, decide on the full picture rather than the lowest single number. Weigh the price against the clarity of the scope, the quality of materials, the credibility of the person and the terms. If the quotes are close in price, the scope and the person usually settle it.
When you choose, tell the others promptly. It is good practice, and it keeps the door open if plans change. Then get the agreed version in writing before work starts, so the quote you compared is the quote that gets done.
Getting quotes is an information process, not a bargain hunt. Get more than one for real work, compare like for like on scope, materials and terms, insist on a written quote once the money is meaningful, and decide on the full picture, not the lowest number. That is the whole skill.