Comparing quotes? What to check before you sign – from a builder who's been on Sydney sites for 20 years.
Call NowWhen three quotes for the same plans are hundreds of thousands of dollars apart, the builders usually aren't pricing the same job. The difference tends to show up later – in allowances, exclusions and variations. Here's what to look for.
Prime cost (PC) items and provisional sums cover things not yet selected – tiles, tapware, kitchens, excavation. If they're set unrealistically low, the quote looks cheaper and you pay the difference later. Ask how each allowance was worked out.
Demolition, site costs, rock, retaining walls, service connections, driveways and landscaping are often left out of a low quote. Read the exclusions list as closely as the price.
A builder who wins on price sometimes recovers it through variations once you're committed. A detailed, itemised quote up front means fewer surprises during the build.
Ask who you'll deal with each week and who makes decisions on site. A builder on site catches problems early – a sales consultant and a rotating supervisor often don't.
Six checks that take an afternoon and can save you years of stress.
Check the builder's licence is current and covers your type of work on the NSW Government licence check. Sydbuilt's is Licence 244844C.
For most residential work in NSW, your builder must give you a Home Building Compensation Fund (HBCF) certificate before taking a deposit or starting work.
Use a recognised residential building contract with a clear scope, plans and specifications attached, a construction program and a fair variations process.
In NSW the deposit on residential building work is capped at 10%. After that, payments should follow completed stages of work – not run ahead of them.
You should be able to see what's included, what's an allowance and what's excluded – so you can compare builders like for like.
Look at completed projects similar to yours, read reviews and talk to past clients or the architects the builder works with.
We'd rather tell you the real cost at the start than win a job on a number that won't hold. If your budget and your design don't match, we'll say so early – while there's still time to adjust the design, not the quality.
Mostly because builders price different scopes – different allowances, inclusions and exclusions. An itemised quote lets you see exactly where the difference is.
It depends on the design, the site and the finishes you choose. Send us your plans or brief and we'll give you a realistic early indication before detailed pricing.
Yes – most of our private work is built from architects' and designers' plans. Involving us early gives your designer builder input on cost and buildability.
A deposit of no more than 10%, then progress payments at agreed stages such as slab, frame, lock-up, fit-out and completion, as set out in your contract.
Any change is priced and agreed in writing as a variation before the work is done, so you always know where the budget stands.
It depends on the size of the home, the approval pathway and the site. We give you a realistic construction program before you sign, and keep you updated against it.
Sites across Sydney metro, including:
Send us your plans or brief – we'll talk you through what a realistic price looks like.
Sydbuilt Projects has built custom homes, knockdown rebuilds, duplexes and Class 2 multi-residential projects across Sydney since 2010. Fully licensed and insured – Licence 244844C. Fill in the form below and we'll organise a discovery call to talk through your project and where it's at, with a detailed quote when you're ready. Or call 02 8739 8986.
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