Should I Accept the Cheapest Quote?
The cheapest quote can be the right one. It just needs to be cheapest for the same job, from a contractor you are confident in.
The short answer
Yes, if it is the cheapest for the same job, from a contractor you trust.
You can accept the cheapest quote when you are sure it covers the same work, materials and extras as the others, the contractor has checked out, and the payment terms and warranty are acceptable. What you should avoid is choosing on the headline figure alone, because the lowest total is often lower for a reason: a narrower scope, cheaper materials, items left out, or allowances that will grow once work starts.
If the quote still comes out cheapest once everything is lined up, there is nothing wrong with taking it. Good contractors are sometimes simply more efficient, closer by or less busy.
Before you say yes
Five checks on the lowest price
Is it the same job?
Compare it item by item with the other quotes. Our answer on how to compare quotes fairly gives a simple method.
What has been left out?
Scaffolding, waste removal, making good and VAT are the usual gaps. Ask whether each is included.
How much is provisional?
A quote with large allowances for unknowns can look cheaper than one that has priced them in. See what is a provisional sum?
Have you checked the business?
Insurance, reviews, references and previous work are worth checking whatever the price. Our guide on how to vet a builder sets out how.
Are the terms sensible?
Look at the deposit, when the rest is due and the warranty. A low price with a large payment upfront deserves a second look.
The fair view
When the lowest price is the right price
A low quote is not a warning sign in itself. A contractor who is local, has a gap in the diary or simply runs a lean business can price well below others and still do excellent work. When the price has been checked against the others and the contractor has checked out, the lowest quote can be the best choice.
Where a low price does cause trouble, it tends to be because the gap was never explained. The job turns out to be smaller than the homeowner thought, extras appear during the work, or the materials are not what was expected. Asking questions before accepting catches most of this. The guide on why the cheapest quote can cost more explains how it happens.
If you are drawn to the cheapest quote but have a nagging doubt, name the doubt and ask about it directly. A contractor who is confident in their price will explain how they arrived at it.
Weighing it up
What else is worth paying for
Price matters. So do the things that decide how the job actually goes.
Signs of good value
- A clear, complete written quote
- Prompt, straight answers to your questions
- A contractor you have been able to check
- A workmanship warranty stated in writing
- A sensible deposit and payment schedule
Worth a closer look
- A price well below every other quote
- Vague wording on what is included
- Pressure to decide quickly
- Requests for cash or a large upfront payment
- No written terms at all
Whatever you choose
Making the decision cleanly
Once you have lined up the quotes and checked the contractors, choose the one you are most confident in at a price you are comfortable with. That may be the cheapest, the dearest or somewhere between. The right answer depends on what each quote includes and how you feel about the people behind it.
When you accept, do it in writing and refer to the quote by its date or reference, so it is clear what you have agreed. It is courteous to let the other contractors know you have gone elsewhere; a short message is enough, and you are under no obligation to explain.
Before you pay anything, read the payment terms again. A deposit should be agreed in writing and in proportion to the job. See how much deposit a builder should ask for.
If you use Mortaro
Value, stated plainly
We won't claim to be the cheapest, because anyone can be undercut. What we offer is a contractor from our network, checked before introduction, a clear written quotation that names them, and one point of contact from first call to completion. Contractors in our network price at trade rates, so your quotation is comparable to going direct. See why use Mortaro and our contractor network.
Straight answers
Questions about the cheapest quote
Should I ask the dearest contractor to match the cheapest?
Only once you know the quotes are for the same job. Otherwise you may be asking them to match a price for less work.
Can I negotiate with the contractor I prefer?
Yes, politely and once you understand what the price includes. Changing the scope or the materials is often a better route to a lower figure than asking for a discount on the same job.
What if the cheapest contractor can start much later?
That is a fair factor to weigh. A lower price may be worth waiting for on work that can wait; urgent work, such as a leak, may justify paying more to start sooner.
Start here
Tell us about the work you have in mind
We will confirm we cover your postcode, arrange a site visit with a contractor from our network and send you a written quotation. No charge, no obligation.