Compare scope before price
Two quotes can have different totals because they list different work. Read the scope first: layout, demolition, waterproofing, tiling, fittings, electrical work, plumbing, waste removal and clean-up should be clear.
If a line is vague, ask for it to be made clear in writing. A lower price may cost more if key work has been left for later.
What is the risk with a verbal estimate?
A verbal estimate can be useful for an early conversation, but it is not enough to sign on. It may not define the tile allowance, fixture choices, access, waste removal, waterproofing, electrical work or what happens if hidden damage is found.
The problem is not that every estimate is dishonest. The problem is that an estimate leaves too many assumptions outside the decision, and those assumptions can turn into extra cost once your bathroom is already out of action.
What should a fixed-scope quote include?
A fixed-scope written quote should say what room is being renovated, what work is included, what is excluded, which selections are allowed for and how variations are approved. It should also show the payment schedule and any program assumptions.
For a bathroom, look closely for demolition, plumbing and electrical preparation, waterproofing to AS 3740, tiling, fit-off, rubbish removal and final clean. If one quote names those items and another does not, you are not comparing the same thing.
Check the assumptions
Look for assumptions about the room size, tile format, fitting allowances, access, work hours and the state of the walls and floor. These details can change the final result.
Ask how changes are priced and approved. You should know who can approve a change and how it will be recorded before work goes ahead.
Ask these questions before you sign
Ask whether the quote is based on an on-site measure, which items are provisional, who manages the trades, when you will receive the program and what certificate or handover documents are supplied. Our guide to fixed-scope quotes, provisional sums and PC items explains each term.
Ask what happens if the old bathroom reveals rot, asbestos, non-compliant plumbing or another issue after demolition. You want the variation process clear before the pressure of a half-demolished room is in the room with you.
Choose accountability as well as value
Ask who will manage the project, how communication will work and what protection is included after completion. ETR is family-run, holds NSW Builder Licence 475204C and offers a 10-year workmanship warranty as stated in its terms.
A free on-site measure and fixed-scope written quote give you a better basis for comparing the actual room, not just an estimate made from photographs.
When is the cheapest quote not the cheapest job?
The cheapest quote can become the dearer job if important work has been left out or pushed into variations. A bathroom renovation has too many connected stages to price on a single headline number.
Choose the quote that makes the work easy to understand. If you cannot explain what is included after reading it, ask for the scope to be rewritten before you sign.
What should be agreed before the deposit?
Before paying a deposit, check the scope, payment schedule, start assumptions and variation process. Confirm who orders the main selections and what happens if a product is unavailable.
The aim is simple: after you sign, both sides should be working from the same document. If a promise matters, it belongs in the quote or contract rather than in a phone call you have to remember later.