Who it's for
- Homeowners with one or more builders' quotes in hand
- Projects designed by any architect or designer, not just Capital
- Anyone whose quotes are far apart and can't tell why
What we check
| Area | What we look for |
|---|---|
| Scope gaps | Work shown on the drawings but missing from the quote |
| Provisional sums and allowances | Vague or unrealistic figures that hide the true cost |
| Preliminaries | Site set-up, skips, scaffolding, welfare: included or extra? |
| Rates | Whether prices look reasonable for the work and area |
| VAT | Whether it's included, excluded or unclear |
| Programme | Whether the timescale is realistic |
| Payment terms | Deposits and staged payments that protect you |
| Contract and insurance | The form of contract, insurance and warranties |
| The builder's company | Basic checks: company registration, trade memberships |
What you receive
- A clear written report, colour-coded: green OK, amber clarify, red risk
- A list of questions to send back to each builder
- A like-for-like comparison if you have more than one quote
- A call to talk through the findings
- Negotiation with the builder on your behalf, if you want it
Worked example (illustrative: replace with a real, anonymised Capital case)
Two quotes for a rear extension: £74,000 and £91,000. The cheaper quote left out the steel beams, used a £3,000 allowance for a £9,000 glazing specification, and excluded drainage. Once those were added, it came to £93,500, more than the "expensive" one.