The Quotation Comparison Sheet is a practical worksheet designed to help you compare contractor quotations on the same basis before making a financial commitment. It is Tool 9 in the From Land to Home companion toolkit and supports Chapters 10 and 14 of From Land to Home. The worksheet recommends giving each contractor the same drawings, specification and Bill of Quantities so that quotations can be reviewed side by side and unexplained gaps can be questioned.
A contractor offering the lowest total price may not necessarily be offering the same scope, materials, standards or payment arrangement as another contractor. The Quotation Comparison Sheet helps you examine what sits behind each figure rather than comparing headline prices alone.
Compare Up to Three Quotations Side by Side
The main worksheet provides columns for Quotation A, Quotation B and Quotation C, allowing you to record information from up to three contractors in one place.
You can compare the contractor’s name, quotation date, validity period and total price. You can also confirm that each contractor used the same drawings, specifications and Bill of Quantities when preparing the price.
This gives you a clearer basis for comparing quotations.
Check What Is Actually Included
A total figure tells you very little if the scope behind it is unclear.
The worksheet helps you examine:
- What is included in each quotation
- Materials and standards assumed
- Items excluded from the quotation
- Assumptions made by the contractor
- Provisional sums and their amounts
- Who will supply particular materials
- Proposed construction period
- Payment stages and amounts
- How future price changes will be handled
- Defects periods and warranties
- References supplied and contacted
- Sample paperwork reviewed
- Red flags such as one-line pricing, pressure to pay, lack of written details or missing references
This comparison can help you identify quotations that appear cheaper because important items have been excluded or left unclear.
Compare Materials and Standards
Two contractors may quote for the same building but assume different materials, finishes or quality standards.
The Quotation Comparison Sheet gives you space to record those assumptions and compare them directly.
This can help you identify situations where one contractor has priced a higher specification while another has used a lower-cost alternative.
Identify Missing Items and Pricing Gaps
The worksheet includes a dedicated Gaps and Questions section.
Here, you can record items that appear in one quotation but are missing from another, the question you asked about the difference and the answer you received.
This section is particularly useful when quotations initially look very different in price.
A lower quotation may simply leave out work that another contractor has included.
Review Payment Terms
The form also helps you compare how each contractor expects to be paid.
You can examine the stages, amounts and timing of payments alongside the total quotation.
This gives you a better view of the contractor’s proposed financial arrangement rather than considering only the final contract sum.
Look at Price Changes and Warranties
Construction prices can change during a project. The worksheet therefore gives you space to compare how each contractor proposes to deal with price changes.
You can also compare defects periods and warranties, giving you a clearer picture of what happens after construction work is completed.
Check References and Paperwork
The Quotation Comparison Sheet also prompts you to confirm that references have been supplied and contacted and that you have reviewed sample paperwork.
This can support a broader assessment of the contractor before an appointment is made.
Record Your Decision and Reasons
The final section gives you space to record your decision and the reasons behind it.
Keeping this written record can help you remember why one quotation was preferred, particularly when several contractors offered different combinations of price, scope, materials, timing and payment arrangements.
What This Toolkit Helps You Do
The Quotation Comparison Sheet helps you compare contractor prices on the same basis, examine inclusions and exclusions, identify provisional sums, review materials and standards, compare payment terms, question missing items, identify warning signs and document the reasons behind your final choice.
It turns several separate quotations into one structured comparison.
Who Is This For?
This worksheet is suitable for first-time home builders, families requesting quotations from several contractors, Ghanaians living abroad who are building at home, property owners replacing a contractor, owners planning major renovations and anyone who wants a clearer record before accepting a construction quotation.
How to Use It
Give each shortlisted contractor the same drawings, specification and Bill of Quantities. Ask each contractor to price the project using the same information.
Enter the quotations side by side and review each row carefully. Question differences rather than assuming that the cheapest or most expensive quotation represents the same work.
Record every important clarification before selecting a contractor or signing an agreement. The worksheet specifically recommends questioning every gap between quotations.
Product Details
Product: Quotation Comparison Sheet
Series: From Land to Home Companion Toolkit
Tool Number: Tool 9
Related Chapters: Chapters 10 and 14
Format: Digital PDF worksheet
Length: 2 pages
Author: Adams Bediako Asare
Website: asarebediakoadams.com
The toolkit is provided for personal use and should not be sold or redistributed without permission.
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