Should I ever pick the cheapest quote?

Yes — when scope is identical, brands are named, and the tradie checks out. The problem isn't price; it's price without context.

How much premium is 'best value' worth?

On most residential jobs, 8–15% above the cheapest is the band where you stop buying risk and start buying quality.

Is the most expensive quote usually the best?

No. It's often the most generous on allowances, which protects the builder. Compare like-for-like first.

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Decision guides

Cheapest Quote vs Best Value Quote

Updated 13 June 2026 · 5 min read · Written for Australian homeowners and builders

The cheapest quote almost never wins on total cost. Best value is a function of scope completeness, materials, warranty, risk and the tradie's reliability. Here's a scoring framework you can apply in 10 minutes.

Score every quote across 5 dimensions

Dimension	Weight	What you're looking for
Scope completeness	30%	Every relevant trade and consumable itemised; few 'as required' lines
Materials & brands	20%	Named brands and model numbers, not 'quality fixtures'
Risk transfer	20%	Fixed price where appropriate; clear allowance & variation rules
Warranty & licence	15%	Current licence, insurance, written workmanship warranty
Communication	15%	Responsive, written follow-ups, named contact

Why the cheapest quote is usually the most expensive

Variation invoices typically add 15–35% to a low-priced fixed quote.
Cheap materials fail sooner; replacement at year 5 costs more than spec'ing well now.
Unlicensed or under-insured tradies can void your home insurance.

Use the Quote Comparison Checklist alongside this framework.

Frequently asked questions

Should I ever pick the cheapest quote?: Yes — when scope is identical, brands are named, and the tradie checks out. The problem isn't price; it's price without context.
How much premium is 'best value' worth?: On most residential jobs, 8–15% above the cheapest is the band where you stop buying risk and start buying quality.
Is the most expensive quote usually the best?: No. It's often the most generous on allowances, which protects the builder. Compare like-for-like first.

Stop guessing whether a quote is fair

QuoteSift reads up to five quotes at once and produces a plain-English report: what's missing, what's inflated, what the best-value option actually is.

Upload quotes See an example report

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