Choosing a Renovation Company: What Matters Besides the Quoted Price?

Look inside the quote before you look at the price: is every item of work written down, are the brand of the materials and the time stated, is there a guarantee? Two totals can only be compared if they cover the same work; the lowest figure is very often the least complete quote.

Seven criteria

1. Itemised quote: strip-out, repairs, materials and labour should be listed separately.
2. Materials: the brand and type of paint, coverings and flooring should be stated.
3. Time: start and finish dates should be written.
4. Payment plan: payments should be tied to the stages of the work.
5. Written guarantee: a guarantee document should be given for the workmanship.
6. Work you can see: completed projects and photos should be shown.
7. Survey and communication: measurements should be taken on site and questions answered plainly.

How to put two quotes side by side

Write the items one under the other and ask about anything that is in one and not in the other. Strip-out, rubble, primer and cleaning are the items most often left out.

Four warning signs

• A firm price given without seeing the home
• The whole sum asked for in advance
• No quote given in writing
• Prices for "extra work" left vague

How are later costs prevented?

We explained which jobs most often add cost in our post on jobs that cause extra cost.

One company or separate tradesmen?

For jobs with several trades one company has the edge; the reasons are in this post. Erdağ Yapı surveys free of charge, quotes in writing and gives a workmanship guarantee; you can see our work on the projects page.