Why isn't a price per square metre enough?
Because one company's figure may include items that another's does not. Some quotations cover only first-fix work, while others add final finishes, materials or labour. A proper comparison starts with a consistent scope of work.
- The property's condition when received
- Material standards and brands
- Required architectural alterations
- The complexity of the design and details
- Execution time and project location
The bill of quantities matters more than the total
A good bill of quantities specifies each item, its unit, quantity and price. This helps you understand where the budget is going and what happens if a quantity or material changes during execution.
Ask for exclusions to be clear. An unwritten item often becomes an extra cost or a disagreement later.
Build flexibility into your budget
Even with good planning, decisions or conditions may arise that cannot be settled before work begins on site. An appropriate contingency is better than committing the entire budget to the base contract.
Start with functional priorities and first-fix installations that are difficult to change, then allocate the rest to visible finishes and decoration.
