Last updated: 27 July 2026
Why do quotations for the same job differ?
The most common reason is that the quotations do not cover the same scope. One may include debris removal, carrying materials and the final clean, while another covers labour only. Before comparing figures, compare what is inside them.
The second reason is the class of material. "Tile" is not one thing: thickness, grade and brand move the price noticeably. If a quotation does not state the quality of the material, there is nothing to compare.
The third is how carefully the existing condition was examined. A price given without opening a wall tends to be optimistic, and the old pipework found on day one comes back as an extra item.
What should a quotation spell out?
A good quotation states the list of works, the quality of materials, whether debris removal is included, the estimated duration, the payment schedule and the condition in which the job will be handed over.
It should also state what is outside the scope. A line reading "electrical work is not included" prevents an argument in the middle of the job.
A verbal agreement produces different memories even between two people acting in good faith. A written, itemised quotation protects the client and the contractor alike.
Where do surprise costs come from?
Most surprise costs come from what appears once walls and floors are opened: aged pipework, corroded water pipes, a floor in worse shape than expected, or bad workmanship left by an earlier renovation.
None of this is entirely unforeseeable. An experienced contractor can look at the age of the building and the visible signs and say "this may turn up here", and will say so at the survey. Extra work whose likelihood was discussed up front is not a surprise; extra work nobody mentioned is.
A useful question when taking quotations is: "What do you think might turn up unexpectedly here?" An answer that offers an honest list of possibilities is more trustworthy than one that says "nothing".
Why can a cheap quotation turn out expensive?
A markedly low price usually hides one of three things: the scope has been kept narrow, the materials are of a lower class, or the hidden work such as waterproofing and groundwork has been skipped.
The third is the riskiest, because the result is invisible at first. A bathroom with skipped waterproofing looks perfect on handover day; the difference appears in the second year, on the ceiling of the flat below. The repair at that point costs far more than doing the job properly would have.
Need help with this? Surveys and quotations are free in Kemalpasa and the surrounding area. Tell us about your project and we will plan the right approach together.