SEO Slug: how-to-get-accurate-building-quotes-london Meta Title: How to Get Accurate Building Quotes in London | RCB Design & Build
How to Get Accurate Building Quotes in London
If you've ever received wildly different quotes for the same building project, you're not alone. It's one of the most common frustrations clients describe — three contractors, three different prices, and no clear idea of which one is right.
The problem usually isn't dishonesty. It's information.
The real reason quotes vary
When two contractors price the same project and come back with very different figures, it's rarely because one is trying to cheat you. It's almost always because they've priced different projects.
Without a detailed scope of works, each contractor makes their own assumptions. One includes structural engineer fees; one excludes them. One allows for a new drainage connection; one assumes it's not needed. One includes a provisional sum for kitchen installation; one prices to supply-and-fit the whole room. The figures look different because they are different.
This is why comparing quotes without a scope is essentially meaningless — you're comparing apples with entirely different fruit.
What you need before asking for quotes
To get a quote that means something, you need:
Architectural drawings — not just planning drawings, but construction drawings that show the builder what they're actually building. Planning approval tells you what's permitted; construction drawings tell you how to build it.
Structural engineer information — for any project involving structural alterations, new foundations, loft conversions, or extensions, your structural engineer's calculations and details are required before a contractor can price structural works with any accuracy.
A schedule of works or scope document — this breaks the project into stages and items, so every contractor is pricing the same thing. Without this, each contractor fills in the gaps differently.
A clear list of exclusions — what is not included matters as much as what is. Confirm whether the quote includes planning application fees, skip hire, building control fees, and scaffolding. These items add up.
Finish level expectations — a bathroom can be tiled with porcelain from B&Q or with Italian stone from a specialist supplier. Both are bathrooms. The cost difference is significant.
How RCB approaches quoting
We don't issue a price until we have enough information to be confident in it. That means asking for drawings, understanding the structural position, clarifying the level of finish, and confirming which materials are client-supplied.
If we don't have enough information, we'll tell you what we need — not pad the figure with a large contingency to cover unknowns.
Where a ballpark is needed at an early stage, we provide one clearly labelled as such, with a disclaimer explaining what information would be required to refine it.
This process takes more effort up front. But the result is a price that you can actually rely on.
What to ask every contractor before accepting a quote
Before you accept any quote, ask these questions and get the answers in writing:
What scope of works does this quote cover?
What have you excluded?
Does this include VAT?
Does it include provisional sums, and if so, what are they for?
What drawings have you priced from?
Are there any items in the price that are to be confirmed?
What would change the price after you've started?
A contractor who can answer these clearly is operating professionally. One who can't — or won't — is not a safe choice, regardless of the price.
Ready to discuss your project and get a properly structured estimate? Call us on +44 7359 872594, email contact@rcbgroup.co.uk, or visit rcbgroup.co.uk.
Kind regards, Vasi J. & rcbGroup team contact@rcbGroup.co.uk www.rcbGroup.co.uk +44 7359 872594 | +44 7448 189592 FMB | TrustMark | Checkatrade | TrustATrader Verified. Insured. Trusted.