Everyone loves the idea of “free quotes.” Sounds like a win, right? No money upfront, quick turnaround, happy days. But the truth is, those free quotes are usually the fastest way to blow your budget.

Because if a builder’s not getting paid to do the work, they’re not going to sit there for 30 or 40 hours digging into every detail of your job. At best, they’ll bash it out in a day. And when something only gets a day’s worth of attention? Things get missed. Big things.

And when those details pop up halfway through the build, it’s you who pays the price. So, if you’re about to get a quote, here are my top five tips to make sure the number you’re given is the number you actually pay.

Tip #1: Don’t Trust Rushed Free Quotes

If someone gives you a “free” quote, just know they’re not sitting down for a week to do it. Honestly, if I was doing it, I wouldn’t want to spend more than a day on it either, because it’s unpaid work.

And that’s the problem. A day isn’t long enough to catch everything. It’s how $35,000.00 air-conditioning systems get “forgotten.” It’s how entire septic tanks, new floors, or repainting costs vanish from the paperwork. And when those “oversights” pop up halfway through construction, it’s not the builder who pays – it’s you.

Tip #2: Look Closely at What’s Included (and What’s Not)

The real traps in quotes aren’t in the headline number – they’re in the fine print (or sometimes the lack of it). Renovations are notorious for this.

Are you getting a price for repainting just the extension, or the whole room it’s connected to? Did the builder actually allow for the appliances you’ve chosen, or did they plug in a token allowance that won’t cover half of what you want?

I once quoted a job where we included a new septic system. Another builder left it out entirely. That’s not a $200 oversight – that’s thousands. And it shows how easy it is for “cheap” quotes to turn into very expensive projects.

Tip #3: Ask How Much Time Went Into the Quote

Here’s a question most homeowners never think to ask: “How long did you actually spend putting this quote together?”

The answer will tell you everything. If it’s a few hours, you’re getting ballpark numbers at best. If it’s days of work, trade consultations, and site visits, you’re looking at something far more reliable.

When I price a project properly, our estimator can spend up to 40 hours on it, because it takes that long to get it right. Anything less, and you’re gambling with your budget.

Tip #4: Beware of “Too Good to Be True” Prices

This is the one that catches people the most. A builder comes in tens of thousands cheaper than the rest, and it feels like a win. But cheap quotes almost always come with blind spots.

I saw it happen on a second-storey addition. Another builder came in $60,000.00 under my price. The clients thought they’d saved a fortune, until it turned out the builder had completely left out the cost of the floor system. That was $35,000.00 missing from day one.

When something that big slips through, there are only two outcomes: corners get cut, or the bill lands on your lap. Either way, the “bargain” quote ends up costing far more.

Tip #5: Pay for Accuracy Upfront

A paid quote isn’t about giving money to the builder – it’s about buying peace of mind.

When I charge for a quote, it simply covers the time it takes to do the job properly. You get a price that reflects the real scope, with no big-ticket items hiding in the shadows. And even if your project doesn’t move ahead, you walk away with something valuable: a detailed costing you can actually use.

Think of it this way: free quotes can cost you thousands in surprises. A paid quote costs a fraction of that, and protects you from the traps that blow budgets apart.

The Quote You Start With Should Be the One You Finish With

A renovation or new build is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make. The last thing you want is to be halfway through and realise the quote you signed off on was never realistic in the first place.

So my advice? Don’t fall for the free quotes trap. Spend a little upfront, get the detail you need, and give yourself the best shot at finishing on budget (and with your sanity intact).

But these five tips are only the start. If you want to bulletproof your renovation from the most common (and costly) mistakes I see every week, I’ve put together a free guide for you: 

The 5 Mistakes People Make When Planning Their Renovation (And How to Avoid Them) 

Inside, you’ll learn:

• The #1 reason most quotes explode mid-build (and how to guarantee yours won’t).
• What most families underestimate about living through a renovation (and how to stay sane).
• Why choosing a builder who “dabbles” in renos can lead to disaster
• The overlooked factor more important than price, inclusions, or promises

Grab your copy here and sidestep the traps I see homeowners fall into all the time. 

For trusted guidance and vetted professionals, explore the Association of Professional Builders and Master Builders Queensland.