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1. Scope written as items, not as a paragraph
"Reinstatement works" is not a scope. Each removal, each make-good and each finish should be its own line with a quantity.
2. What is explicitly excluded
The exclusions list is more informative than the inclusions list. A quote with no exclusions has not been thought about.
3. Who obtains the permits
HDB permits, building permits to work, method statements and insurance documents. Either the contractor does it or you do. Silence means you do.
4. Working hours assumed
A price built on daytime working collapses the moment the building restricts noisy works to nights. Confirm which the quote assumes.
5. Debris disposal and cart-away
Included, or a provisional sum, or excluded entirely. On a hacking job this is a significant line, not a footnote.
6. Making good after other trades
Someone has to patch the wall after the electrician chases it. If nobody has priced that, you will pay for it later at short notice.
7. Coat build and product names
"Two coats" of what, over what primer. Named products with a stated number of coats are the only comparable form.
8. Workmanship warranty
Separate from any product warranty, with a stated duration. This is the one that matters when something moves in month eight.
9. Payment tied to milestones
Deposit, commencement, completion of stages, and a retention until snagging closes. A large payment due before work starts is a risk you are carrying for the contractor.
The cheapest quote is usually the one that left the most out. Normalise them before you choose.
The comparison that actually works
Put the quotes side by side and mark, line by line, what each one includes. The cheap one usually stops being cheap at that point — or it turns out to be genuinely better value, which is worth knowing too.
- #quotes
- #buying guide
- #checklist
This article is general information. Every property is different, so have the work assessed by a qualified professional before it starts.
