How to compare renovation quotes: what a written quote should contain

What a written quote should contain

• Work item list: quantity, unit and unit price for each item
• Materials: brand, model or quality class; the distinction between 'extra' and 'included'
• Exclusions: who is responsible for demolition, rubble removal, scaffolding, transport, electricity and water supply
• Schedule: start and end dates, and what happens in case of delay
• Payment plan: payment tied to stages; any advance should be reasonable and documented
• Warranty: written period and scope for workmanship and materials
• Extra work: how the price will be determined if items not foreseen at the survey arise

Questions to ask when comparing

• What surface preparation does this price cover?
• Who will you hand the materials invoice and warranty document to?
• Who carries out daily supervision on site?
• If any work touches the load-bearing system, who holds the engineer's approval?
• Can I see two jobs of the same type that you have done?

Warning signs

Be cautious with quotes that give only a single 'turnkey' figure without an item breakdown, do not state the material brand, give no written warranty or ask for a very high advance. The Thermal Insulation Application Guide also recommends written workmanship and material warranties, daily site supervision and insurance for work such as mantolama.

The limit of this article

This article is a checklist that works in practice. We could not access the official texts on subjects such as the VAT rate, the contract-for-work provisions of the Turkish Code of Obligations, defect notification periods and the MYK vocational qualification certificate requirement in this work; so we give no figures or articles on those subjects. For those, refer to the current texts of the relevant institutions or to a lawyer.