How to compare quotes from tradespeople

In brief

• Send the same description of the work to all the tradespeople.
• Ideally obtain at least three quotes.
• Check whether the price is a fixed price, a price estimate or an hourly rate.
• Make sure the prices include VAT.
• Compare the scope of work line by line.
• Find out what is expressly not included.
• Compare the quality of the materials.
• Clarify transport, site setup, machinery and waste.
• Check which subcontractors and trades are included.
• Assess start date, completion and capacity.
• Agree on what documentation is to be delivered.
• Use a written contract and written change orders.
• Tie payment to documented progress.
• Do not choose a quote until the unclear points have been resolved.
• Compare risk and quality - not just the total.

Why can the quotes be so different?

Three tradespeople can inspect the same project and come back with very different prices.

The difference can be due to, among other things:

A quote of 200,000 kr can be better than a quote of 160,000 kr if the more expensive quote includes work that will later cost more than the price difference.

The goal is therefore not to make the quotes identical. The goal is to understand the differences and work out what each option is likely to cost once the whole project is finished.

1. Send the same description of the work to everyone

You cannot compare the quotes fairly if the tradespeople have been given different information.

Write one description of the work and send it to all the companies you are considering. It should contain:

Ask all the companies the same questions as well. Otherwise one quote may end up more detailed simply because that tradesperson was given more information.

2. Find out what type of price you have been given

Before you compare the totals, you need to know what kind of price each tradesperson has given.

Fixed price

A fixed price gives good predictability when the work is clearly defined. But a fixed price only covers what is actually stated in the quote.

If "painting of walls" is included, but filling, priming and materials are not mentioned, these items may be charged on top.

Price estimate

A price estimate is not the same as a fixed price. Under the Consumer Craftsman Services Act (håndverkertjenesteloven), the price should normally not exceed the estimate significantly - and not by more than 15 percent - unless something else has been expressly agreed or you have approved additional work.

That does not mean the tradesperson can automatically add 15 percent to the estimate. The final price must still be based on the work actually carried out and what you have agreed.

Read more in the Norwegian Consumer Council (Forbrukerrådet) checklist for tradesperson services.

Hourly rate

With hourly work, you need to check more than the hourly rate itself:

A tradesperson with a higher hourly rate can turn out cheaper if the work is done faster and with fewer mistakes.

Unit price

Unit prices can be practical for large quantities, but they must be clearly defined.

Examples include:

Clarify how the quantity is measured and whether the price includes materials, preparatory work, transport and completion.

3. Check whether VAT is included

When you compare prices as a private customer, you need to compare the total you will actually pay.

A quote of 200,000 kr excluding VAT becomes 250,000 kr including VAT at the standard rate of 25 percent.

So check whether the quote says:

If the company charges VAT, you can check its registration in the business register of the Brønnøysund Register Centre (Brønnøysundregistrene).

A missing registration does not automatically mean that a new or small company is disreputable. But a company should not simply add VAT to the invoice if it is not registered for it.

4. Compare the scope of work line by line

The most important question is not just "What does it cost?" but "What do I get for the money?"

Break the quotes down into work phases:

Feel free to use a comparison table:

Write "included", "not included" or the stated price in each field. It then quickly becomes clear why the quotes have different totals.

5. Look closely at what is not included

What is missing from the quote can be just as important as what is in it.

Look for wording such as:

Such reservations are not necessarily unreasonable. Some costs can be difficult to know in advance. The problem arises when the customer does not understand how significant the reservations can turn out to be.

Ask the tradesperson to estimate the excluded costs or explain which situations trigger extras.

6. Compare the materials

Two quotes may use words like "parquet", "membrane", "paint" or "decking boards" but refer to products with very different prices and quality.

Ask for:

A quote that only says "materials included" is difficult to compare.

Also check the mark-up on materials

Tradespeople may charge for the time and responsibility involved in ordering, transporting, storing and handling materials. This can be entirely legitimate, but the pricing should be clear.

Ask:

If you buy the materials yourself, the quote should state who is responsible for measuring and ordering.

7. Check the number of coats, layers and treatments

Quotes can look alike even when the degree of completion differs.

Examples:

Ask the tradesperson to describe what final result is included.

"Finished wall" may mean installed plasterboard to one company. To another it may mean a wall that is filled, sanded, primed, painted and finished with trim.

8. Compare quality and expected lifespan

A cheaper material may reduce the investment now but mean more maintenance or a shorter lifespan.

Consider:

Feel free to ask each tradesperson to explain why they recommend the chosen solution.

It is a good sign when the tradesperson can explain both advantages and disadvantages, rather than just saying that one product "is best".

9. Find out how many labour hours have been estimated

If two quotes have very different labour costs, you can ask how many hours or working days have been assumed.

The difference may be due to:

A high number of hours is not automatically negative. It may mean the tradesperson has allowed for more thorough preparatory work.

A very low number of hours may be efficient, but it may also be unrealistic.

10. Compare transport, site setup and waste

Many quotes have extras that are not part of the actual trade work.

Check the price of:

On a small job, these costs can make up a large share of the total. On a larger project, scaffolding, skips and transport can cost tens of thousands of kroner.

11. Check who pays for other trades

In a renovation, the quote may require work from several trades:

Clarify whether the main contractor has included these costs, or whether you need to enter into separate agreements.

Also ask:

An all-in quote may cost more because the company takes on the coordination. Separate agreements can give more control, but require more follow-up from the customer.

12. Compare the schedule

A quote is not just about price. It is also about when the work can start, how long it will take and how reliable the time estimate is.

Check:

A cheap quote can become expensive if the project takes much longer and you have to pay for alternative accommodation, storage or other delays.

Also ask how many other projects the company will be running at the same time. A good price is of little help if the company does not have the capacity to show up.

13. Compare the documentation

Documentation should be described before the work starts.

Depending on the project, you may need:

A quote that includes tidy final documentation can be worth more than a cheaper quote without it.

For electrical work, the customer must among other things receive a declaration of conformity from the registered electrical contractor. See information from the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB).

14. Check who is responsible for applications and approvals

Some projects can be carried out without an application. Others require a permit from the municipality and the use of responsible enterprises (ansvarlige foretak).

Clarify:

Do not assume that "all the paperwork" is included. Ask for the responsibility to be clearly stated in the quote and the contract.

The Norwegian Building Authority (Direktoratet for byggkvalitet) has guidance on work on existing buildings and which projects may require an application.

15. Compare the payment terms

A good quote should explain when and how the customer is to pay.

Be careful with a quote that demands the full amount before the work starts.

For larger projects, payment can follow milestones, for example:

Milestones should describe a result, not just a date.

"Payment on 1 October" says nothing about how far the project should have progressed.

"Payment once the insulated and boarded wall is finished and documented" gives a clearer checkpoint.

A complete comparison table

The last row is important. "Adjusted total price" is your assessment of what the quote will cost once missing but necessary items are added.

Example: The cheapest quote was not the cheapest

A customer receives three quotes for renovating a bathroom.

Quote A: 245,000 kr

The quote includes demolition, tiling and part of the plumbing work.

It does not include:

Expected extras: 75,000 kr.

Adjusted total price: 320,000 kr

Quote B: 295,000 kr

The quote includes:

Adjusted total price: 295,000 kr

Quote C: 335,000 kr

The quote includes the same as quote B, but with more expensive tiles, custom-made furniture and a shorter completion time.

Adjusted total price: 335,000 kr

In this example, quote A has the lowest stated price, but quote B is the cheapest once the necessary extras are counted in.

Quote C may still be the right choice if the customer prioritises material quality and faster completion.

The example is illustrative. Actual prices vary with size, standard and scope of work.

How to assess an unusually low quote

A low quote can be genuine. A smaller company may have low administrative costs, a short travel distance or spare capacity.

But before you choose, you should ask:

Feel free to ask the tradesperson to explain why the quote is much lower than the others. A reputable company should be able to give an understandable explanation.

How do you assess a more expensive quote?

A higher quote can make sense if it provides:

At the same time, a high price should not automatically be read as high quality. Ask the most expensive company, too, to document what you get for the price difference.

Use a scoring model

If it is hard to choose, you can give each quote points.

You can change the weighting to suit the project.

For a simple painting job, price and availability may matter most. For a full bathroom renovation, professional expertise, coordination and documentation should weigh more heavily.

Questions to send before you decide

If the quote is unclear, you can send the following questions:

Ask for the answers to be either incorporated into an updated quote or attached to the contract.

Suggested message to the tradesperson

Hi,

Thank you for the quote. Before I compare it with the other quotes, I would like to clarify a few points:

I would like these clarifications to be included in the final quote or the contract before the work starts.

Thank you in advance.

Red flags in a quote from a tradesperson

Be extra careful if:

An unclear quote does not have to mean the company is disreputable. But the unclear points must be resolved before you sign.

Changes and additional work

Even a thorough quote cannot foresee everything. When walls or floors are opened up, the tradesperson may discover moisture, rot, uneven structures or old installations.

Agree in advance that all extras are to be documented in writing.

A change order should show:

Do not approve large extras through a quick verbal conversation on site.

Contract and payment plan

Once you have chosen a quote, it should be attached to the written contract.

The contract should contain at least:

The Norwegian Consumer Council recommends a written contract and a precise description of the work. See their checklist.

Safe payment throughout the project

You should normally not pay the full amount before the work starts.

Payment can instead be tied to documented parts of the project. The tradesperson then gets paid as the work progresses, while the customer keeps control.

Fikso is built to make paying for services safer:

A secure payment system does not replace a clear description of the work. Quotes, contract, changes, photos and communication must still be documented.

Frequently asked questions about quotes from tradespeople

Conclusion: Compare content, risk and total price

When you receive several quotes from tradespeople, you should not start by asking which number is lowest.

Start by checking whether the quotes cover the same work.

Compare:

Then work out an adjusted total price for each quote.

The best quote is normally the one that offers a good combination of the right expertise, a clear scope of work, a realistic price, good materials, a workable schedule and a low risk of surprises.

A clear quote also gives a better basis for the contract. It makes it easier for the tradesperson to know what is to be delivered - and for the customer to check that the agreed work has actually been done.

Method and sources

This article is based on Norwegian consumer rules and public guidance on tradesperson services, company checks, electrical work and building applications.

Sources used as a basis: