PLAIN-ENGLISH PROJECT GUIDES
Which contractor is actually offering the best value?
Look at the clarified price alongside capacity, relevant experience, programme and unresolved risks.
Compare the work before ranking the price
Start with a consistent scope. Then separate firm sums, provisional items and exclusions. A higher price may include work missing elsewhere; equally, it may simply cost more. Ask for evidence and clarification rather than assuming either explanation.
Check how the job will be delivered
Ask who would manage the site, what similar work the team has undertaken, how they will resource your dates and which specialist packages need further input. Request relevant references and appropriate insurance information, and have competent advisers assess what is suitable.
Agree what matters to you
An occupied home may prioritise phasing and reliable communication. A commercial project may depend on a critical opening date. Use those requirements in a documented comparison instead of inventing a score after deciding which contractor you prefer.
Do not promise away the risks
References and a tender review reduce uncertainty but cannot guarantee future performance. Resolve material qualifications before signing, obtain appropriate contract advice and make responsibility for outstanding design clear. An informed recommendation can still be to clarify or retender.
Your practical checklist
- Normalise the scope first.
- Check the proposed team and availability.
- Compare delivery requirements and remaining risks.
- Record why the preferred option fits the brief.
Useful independent guidance
RICS: home extensions and improvements · Planning Portal: finance and budget
General guidance, not a quotation or project-specific legal, design, valuation or financial advice. Services and professional responsibilities are agreed separately.