A cheap renovation quote feels like a win. Same scope, same promises, lower number, what made it cheaper?
Plenty things, and In most cases, the cheapest quote isn’t cheaper. It’s incomplete.
Low quotes often skip critical details, proper prep work, realistic labour hours, disposal fees, permit costs, or even basic materials.
Those gaps won’t disappear just like that; they resurface later as unforeseen issues, variations, or necessary upgrades. By the time the dust settles, the final cost quietly passes the higher original quotes.
Another common trick is underpricing labour. The job starts, timelines stretch, corners get cut, and suddenly the contractor needs adjustments to finish properly. Homeowners end up paying more just to get the quality they thought they were buying in the first place.
Cheap quotes also tend to rely on lower-grade materials. They look fine on paper, but fail inspections, wear out faster, or require replacement sooner thus turning “savings” into repeat expenses.
The most expensive renovations are rarely the highest quotes. They are the ones that start cheap and end messy.
A solid quote explains why it costs what it costs. Transparency beats temptation every time.
