Builder increased the quote before work starts: what should you do?
Ask for a written explanation of what changed before agreeing to a higher price. Compare the new proposal with the original scope, drawings, exclusions and any terms you have already accepted. A revised pre-start price may reflect genuinely new information, but “materials cost more now” does not automatically alter an agreed fixed quote.
First, establish what you agreed
Was the earlier figure a firm quotation, a budget estimate, or a tender with conditions and an expiry date? Has either party accepted an offer and formed a contract? The answer depends on the communications and terms, not the file name alone. Citizens Advice distinguishes quotes and estimates and explains the importance of written scope. If a binding contract or significant deposit is disputed, obtain legal advice before purporting to cancel or vary it.
Compare line by line
Identify the original drawing revisions and specification.
List every change since the first price: structure, finishes, access, programme and client requests.
Ask the builder to separate new scope from corrections to its original price.
Check provisional sums, exclusions and tax treatment in both versions.
Ask what the revised amount includes and whether it is now fixed or still conditional.
For example, a structural engineer’s later beam design may create genuine new work if the original quote expressly excluded it. A builder discovering that it underallowed ordinary labour for an unchanged fixed scope is a different issue. The contract and facts decide the commercial position.
Do not compare the new total in isolation
A rival’s cheaper figure may omit the same unresolved detail. Get a common scope and ask for comparable revisions. If the design remains incomplete, consider whether an early cost and readiness assessment is more useful than demanding another apparently precise fixed price. See how to compare quotes, fixed price versus estimate and how allowances affect the total.
What to agree before paying
Record the final price or valuation method, contract documents, exclusions, programme, deposit and stage payments. Make sure any changed price is reflected consistently across the contract and payment schedule. Avoid an informal deposit against two conflicting versions of the work.
Build Advocate can assess the revised quote, scope and missing information from the homeowner’s side before you commit. See the current services and prices.
