Renovation guide
How to Compare Renovation Quotations in Singapore (Properly)
PRDT Interior / Productions Pte Ltd · Last updated 2026-07-18
The most expensive mistake in comparing renovation quotations is comparing the totals. A S$32,000 quote and a S$41,000 quote for the "same" flat are almost never for the same work — one may exclude haulage, painting and disposal; the other may include quartz where the first has laminate.
Having reviewed many homeowner-submitted quotations side by side, here is the method we use — and the traps that catch most people.
Step 1: Normalise the GST position first
Singapore's GST is 9%. One quote saying "$30,000 (GST not included)" and another saying "$32,000 inclusive of GST" are S$700 apart, not S$2,000 — but only if the first contractor is GST-registered at all. Smaller firms below the registration threshold charge no GST.
Before comparing anything else, write down each quote's true expected total: stated amount, plus GST if excluded and applicable. This one step reorders more comparisons than any other.
Step 2: Compare scope line by line, not total to total
Put the quotes side by side and go trade by trade: hacking, masonry, tiling, carpentry, countertops, plumbing, electrical, ceiling, painting, doors, glass, cleaning. For each trade, mark whether each quote includes it, excludes it, or does not mention it.
"Not mentioned" is the dangerous category. An item absent from a quote is not free — it is a future variation order. Common silently-missing items: haulage and disposal, painting after carpentry, plumbing relocation, curtain pelmets, and post-renovation cleaning.
Step 3: Check quantities and materials, not just line names
"Kitchen cabinet" appears in both quotes — but one is 14ft laminate and the other 16ft with quartz top and branded soft-closing hinges. Carpentry should state feet run, material, and internal fittings. Flooring should state the material grade and thickness. Painting should state the brand and number of coats.
Where a quote says "standard range", "selected range", "as required", or "allowance" — that is not a price, it is a placeholder. Ask what it covers and what an upgrade costs before you sign, not after.
Step 4: Compare the terms, not just the works
Two quotes with identical works can still be very different offers:
- •Payment schedule — how much is due before work starts, and how much is held until completion
- •Warranty — duration, and what it actually covers (workmanship only? carpentry hardware?)
- •Variation order process — how extras are priced and approved mid-project
- •Timeline commitment — and what happens when it slips
- •Provisional sums — items priced as allowances that can grow later
Step 5: Ask each contractor the questions their quote raises
A good comparison produces a short question list per contractor: confirm what "lump sum" covers, whether the sink is supplied or only installed, which laminate range is included, whether disposal is in. Contractors who answer these clearly before signing tend to be the ones who handle variations professionally after.
If you would rather not build the spreadsheet yourself, our Quotation Comparison tool does this structurally: upload two or three quotations, and PRDT prepares a side-by-side comparison of totals, scope, materials, missing items, payment and warranty terms — reviewed by our team before it reaches you.
Frequently asked questions
Should I just pick the cheapest quotation?
Not on the headline number alone. The cheapest quote is often the least complete one — the gap returns later as variation orders. Compare completed scope, not starting price.
How many quotations should I get?
Two to three detailed quotations from firms you would genuinely consider is more useful than five rough ones. Beyond three, the comparison effort grows faster than the insight.
Is a more detailed quotation a good sign?
Generally yes. Itemised quantities, stated materials, and explicit exclusions signal a contractor who has actually scoped your job — and give you contractual protection when disputes arise.
What if the quotes cover different scopes entirely?
Normalise before comparing: either ask each contractor to re-quote a common scope, or mentally add the missing items at market rates. This is exactly what our comparison report does for you.
Comparing quotations right now?
Upload two or three renovation quotations and PRDT will prepare a side-by-side comparison — totals, scope gaps, materials, payment terms — reviewed by our team.
Compare my quotationsRelated guides
Figures are indicative planning ranges from PRDT's current pricing model, not quotations. Final pricing depends on site condition, measurements and material selection. Regulatory requirements change — always confirm current rules with the relevant authority.