How to Get Three Competitive Quotes That Are Actually Comparable

Most homeowners ask three roofers or builders to quote the same job and then wonder why the prices are so far apart. One comes in at €4,500, one at €7,200, and one at €5,800. You end up picking the middle one because it feels safest, without really knowing what any of them are actually going to do. That's not comparing quotes. That's just collecting numbers.

The problem almost always starts before the tradespeople arrive. If you haven't told them precisely what you want done, they will each fill in the gaps differently. One includes scaffolding, one doesn't. One strips back to the rafters, one patches over the existing felt. One uses a mid-range tile, one uses whatever is cheapest. They're all quoting a different job. Of course the prices don't match.

The fix is a scope of works: a simple written description of what you want done, specific enough that every person quoting has to price the same thing.

Start with what you know the job involves

Write down what you understand the job to require, even roughly. You don't need technical language. Something like: "Strip existing roof covering back to the timbers, replace any damaged timbers, install new breathable membrane, re-batten, and re-tile using a concrete interlocking tile in a dark grey." That one sentence rules out a dozen assumptions.

If you're not sure what the job involves, ask the first tradesperson who visits to talk you through it. Listen carefully. Write their explanation down. Then use that as the basis for what you send to everyone else.

Be specific about materials

This is where most scopes fall apart. "New roof tiles" means nothing. There's a significant price difference between a basic concrete tile and a premium natural slate. Specify the material type, and if you have a preference, name it. If you don't have a preference, say that you're open to the contractor's recommendation but ask them to state in their quote what product they are pricing for.

The same applies to anything else going into the job. Insulation type and thickness. Membrane brand or grade. Guttering material, whether that's uPVC or cast iron. Fascia boards. If it's going into the job and you're paying for it, it belongs in the scope.

Specify what's included and what's not

Write out what you expect to be covered in the price. Scaffolding or access equipment. Removal and disposal of old materials. Making good after the work. VAT, which should always be stated clearly as included or excluded. A lot of disputes start because one party assumed something was in the price and the other didn't.

If there are things you're genuinely unsure about, flag them as items to be priced separately. Ask each contractor to give you a rate for them, not a vague "we'll sort that at the time." That way you're comparing like with like on the core job, and you have a clear figure if the extras come up.

Send the same document to everyone

Once you have your scope written down, send it to each contractor before they visit, or hand it to them when they're on site. Ask them to base their quote on what's in it. If they want to recommend something different, that's fine, but ask them to price your spec first and then offer their alternative alongside it. That way you still have a comparison.

If a contractor refuses to quote from a written scope or gets irritated that you've put something in writing, pay attention to that. The ones who are happy to be clear about what they're doing and what they're charging tend to be easier to work with through the whole job.

Read the quotes against your scope

When the quotes come back, go through each one line by line against what you asked for. Anything missing is a gap you need to question before you sign anything. Ask the contractor to clarify in writing, not on the phone. If the price changes once they've answered your questions, that's useful information too.

Before anyone starts, it's also worth knowing the right questions to ask a roofer before work begins, because a clear scope gets you comparable prices, but a few direct questions before signing will tell you a lot about who you're actually dealing with.