Custom Home Costs & Quote Checklist
Separate the building contract from the whole project
Start a scope list before looking for a headline price. Depending on your proposal, design work, investigations, approvals, service connections, landscaping or other items may be separate from the building contract. Also consider any arrangements you need outside construction, such as temporary accommodation.
Write down who is organising each item and where its cost is recorded. The aim is a complete picture of your project, even when different parties are responsible for different parts.
Understand what the quote is based on
Record the drawing revision, specification, site reports and selections used for every quote. Ask which assumptions remain. A proposal based on preliminary plans is a different starting point from one based on resolved drawings and documented selections.
Site preparation, structural design, access, finish choices and external works are useful topics to discuss because their scope can differ between projects. Ask what investigation or decision would help resolve each unknown.
Ask how allowances will be adjusted
A prime cost item generally relates to a fixture or fitting that has not been finally selected or priced. Ask exactly what the allowance includes and how the eventual selection changes the price. The NSW Government’s residential building-contract guidance explains prime cost items and recommends specifying products clearly.
If a quote contains provisional sums or other allowances, ask the builder to explain the work they cover, the evidence behind the allowance and the contract’s adjustment method. Have any unclear terms reviewed before signing. Do not assume an allowance is a final price.
Your quote comparison worksheet
For each proposal, record one status beside every row: included, allowance, excluded or ask the builder. Write the relevant document and page number beside your answer. These are comparison prompts, not a statement of Vision Smart Homes’ standard inclusions.
| Scope item | Question to resolve | Status and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Design and documents | Which plans, specifications and revisions are priced? | ________________ |
| Investigations | Which surveys, reports or additional investigations are included? | ________________ |
| Approvals and fees | Who organises and pays for each application and professional appointment? | ________________ |
| Site preparation | What is assumed about access, excavation, spoil and existing structures? | ________________ |
| Building work | Which construction details and materials form the priced scope? | ________________ |
| Fixtures and finishes | Which products are specified, and which remain allowances? | ________________ |
| Services and drainage | Which connections, upgrades and drainage works are included? | ________________ |
| External works | Are driveways, fencing, retaining work and landscaping covered? | ________________ |
| Changes and timing | How are price adjustments, variations and time effects documented? | ________________ |
| Quote conditions | What is the validity period, and which conditions remain unresolved? | ________________ |
Print using your browser’s print command. The worksheet works without an account or an email address.
Resolve differences before deciding
When one quote includes an item and another does not, request a written clarification. Avoid filling the gap with a guess. Keep the clarification with the proposal so later revisions can be checked against it.
The NSW building-contract checklist is a useful final reference for the contract price, changes, progress payments and other responsibilities. A comparison worksheet helps organise questions; the signed documents establish the agreed scope and terms.
Prepare for a project-specific conversation
Bring your site location, available plans, desired rooms, priorities and any existing reports. Explain which decisions are settled and where you want help. Ask what further information is needed and whether preparing it involves a separate appointment or fee.