Working with a contractor
What to Ask Before You Request a Quotation
Quotations you can compare have to describe the same scope: what is included, what is not, and how long the number holds.
Two quotations with very different numbers are often not pricing the same work. One includes the fence and the kitchen, the other stops at the main building. Match the questions before you compare the numbers.
What is included, and what is not
Ask whether the number covers structure, architecture, MEP, sanitary ware, the fence, the carport, and the kitchen. In the MEETS house package, construction, MEP, finishes, and sanitary ware are the usual included set. A kitchen set, garden, and furniture are not. Design, air conditioning, and PBG processing are marked as part of the package and are still confirmed in the quotation.
If another quotation does not say what is excluded, the number is not ready to compare.
The specification behind the number
"Standard finishes" does not mean the same thing at every contractor. Ask for groups of materials: floors, paint, frames, and sanitary ware. You do not need brands on day one. You need the level, so there is a basis later if you choose higher or simpler.
Whether the number is an estimate or a quotation
An estimate is built from the information available at the time. A final quotation locks the scope after survey and specification. Also ask how long the number holds. Material prices move. A quotation with no validity period is hard to use.
Schedule and sequence
Ask when work is assumed to start, and how long a house of that size usually takes. A two-storey house does not finish in the same time as a single-storey house on the same land area. A narrow lane slows deliveries, and that belongs in the schedule, not only in the price.
Who handles drawings and permits
A floor plan, construction drawings, and a permit are not the same thing. Ask which of them are included and which still need someone else. Assuming the permit "just comes with it" is a common source of delay.
How to bring this to MEETS
The request form asks for your name, WhatsApp, project type, city, budget range, and when you want to start. That is enough for a first conversation. Also bring, if you have them: the lot size, how many floors you imagine, and whether an old house is still standing.
You do not need a full bill of quantities before getting in touch. What helps is information that keeps the survey from starting as a guess.
Common questions
Do I need drawings before I ask for a quotation?
No. Lot size, project type, city, and a budget range are enough to start. Detailed drawings come after the needs and the site are clearer.
Why can two contractors be so far apart on price?
Often because the scope and the specification are different. Compare what is included and what is excluded, not only the total.
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