A quote you can’t question is a quote you can’t trust
A renovation quotation (裝修報價單) is the one document that decides whether your project runs to budget, and most disputes trace back to a quote that was never clear enough to argue with in the first place. The good news: reading one like a professional is a learnable skill, and it comes down to structure, two Chinese words, and knowing where the add-ons hide.
It should be organised by trade, not as one lump sum
A complete quote breaks the job into trade sections, demolition and disposal, wet trades and waterproofing, electrical and plumbing, carpentry and joinery, kitchen and bathroom, paint and flooring, and miscellaneous or protection. Within each, every line should state three things: what the work is, the quantity or area, and whether the material is included. If a quote is a handful of large round numbers with no breakdown, that is the warning sign, you can neither compare it against another firm nor hold the contractor to it.
The two words that explain most price gaps
The single biggest source of apparent price differences is supply-and-install (連工包料) versus labour-only (只計工). Supply-and-install means the contractor provides and fits the material; labour-only means you buy the material yourself and they install it. A labour-only line looks cheaper, until the material cost lands on you separately and the “cheaper” quote quietly overtakes the other one. Confirm which model applies to every major line, and be especially alert when they are mixed within one quote.
Read the base works and the carpentry closely
Two blocks reward extra attention:
- Base works are the most underestimated, because the work disappears once finished. Confirm that waterproofing is included after any bathroom or kitchen demolition, count how many electrical points are actually priced, and check that old pipework and wiring are being replaced, not merely reconnected.
- Carpentry is usually the largest block. A trustworthy carpentry line shows linear footage, names the carcass and door board type, and names the hardware brand for hinges and runners. Watch for a vague “cabinets, one sum” entry; that is where quality is decided invisibly.
Where the add-ons hide
Extra charges cluster in predictable spots: making-good after demolition, levelling an uneven floor or wall, electrical points added mid-job, and anything tagged “subject to site condition.” None of these are dishonest in themselves, but they should be discussed up front, and the quote should define what actually triggers a variation. If it isn’t written, assume it isn’t included; verbal assurances are how disputes start.
A five-point check before you sign
- Every major item flagged supply-and-install or labour-only.
- Materials named by type and brand where it matters.
- A payment schedule tied to progress, with no large up-front demand.
- A clear scope of exclusions.
- A workmanship warranty, with its duration stated.
How Primeworks handles this
Our quotes are itemised by trade, off a real site measure, with each line flagged for supply-and-install or labour-only and hardware named where it counts. Payment is staged against on-site progress on a clear schedule, and exclusions are written down rather than left to a conversation, so the document you sign is one you can actually hold us to.