Line items, allowances and exclusions: how to read a construction quote so the final bill holds no surprises.
Labor, broken out by trade. A single line reading “labor” is a red flag. You should see framing, roofing, electrical, plumbing and finishing separately.
Materials, with grades named. “Windows” is not a specification. “Double-glazed uPVC, U-value 1.2” is.
Permits and inspection fees. These are real costs. If they are missing from the quote, they will appear on the invoice.
Allowances, clearly flagged. An allowance is a placeholder for something you have not chosen yet, like tile or fixtures. It is not a fixed price, and the estimate should say so.
Exclusions. The most useful section in any quote. Landscaping, appliances and window treatments are commonly excluded — make sure you know which.
A payment schedule tied to milestones. Not to dates. You should be paying for completed stages, not for elapsed time.
If two quotes differ by more than 15%, the cheaper one is usually missing something rather than being better value. Put them side by side line by line before you decide.
