Guide
Does your building quotation include everything?
A plain-English checklist for comparing building quotations in Kenya, so you can spot missing items before you sign.
By Redbay Group ·
Why two quotes can be so different
Two contractors can quote very different totals for the same house. Often the cheaper one has simply left things out. Those items come back later as extra costs, usually when the work has already started.
The way to compare fairly is to check that each quotation covers the same work.
What a complete quotation should cover
Ask whether each of these is included, and where:
- Preliminaries: site setup, water, security and site supervision
- Substructure: excavation, foundations and the ground floor slab
- Superstructure: walls, columns, beams and upper floors
- Roofing, including gutters and downpipes
- Doors, windows and grills
- Finishes: plaster, screed, tiles, ceilings and paint
- Plumbing and electrical work
- External works: drainage, paving, walls and gates
- VAT, and whether the total is before or after it
Questions to ask before you sign
A good contractor will answer these without hesitation:
- Is this an itemised bill of quantities, or a lump sum?
- Who buys the materials, and at what price?
- What are the payment stages, and what must be finished before each one?
- What happens if quantities change on site?
- Is the contractor licensed with the NCA, and is the work insured?