How to read a renovation quote
Read your renovation quote,one item at a time.
You don’t need to know every construction term. Start with work you recognise, such as painting the living room.
Check the work, quantity, price, materials, inclusions and terms. When something is unclear, ask for the missing detail to be added to the quote or its attachments.
- 01Find the item
- 02Read six fields
- 03Ask for missing details
What does this NT$12,000 cover?
This teaching example has deliberate gaps. Select a field to see what it tells you—and what you still need to ask.
How to read this field / 01
Which part of the room?
“Living-room walls” tells you more than “painting: lump sum”, but which walls are included? Don’t assume the ceiling or other rooms are covered just because they aren’t listed separately.
Teaching example
One quotation item- Work item
- Paint the living-room walls
- Quantity & unit
- 20 m² | Measurement basis not attached
- Price & subtotal
- NT$600/m² | Subtotal NT$12,000
- Materials
- Emulsion paint | Brand, range and model not listed
- Inclusions
- Floor protection listed | Wall repairs and cleaning unspecified
- Terms & duties
- Pay on completion | Acceptance, warranty and changes unspecified
Currency: New Taiwan dollars
Fictional work and prices, for reading and arithmetic only. Not market rates, recommended specifications or a contract-ready template.
Same total. Different work?
One painting quote may include repairs while another says nothing about them. Matching NT$12,000 totals won’t resolve that gap. Confirm the scope before comparing the prices.
Before signing
Can you find these eight things in writing?
Tick an item when you can point to it in the quote or an attachment. Leave uncertain items blank and ask for the missing details.
What else should I check before signing?See the full quotation checklistYour own checklist, not an SII score or permission to sign. Selections stay on this screen only and clear when you reload.
A few common questions
Should I reject a quote that uses lump sums?
No. A lump sum is a pricing method. Look for the scope, materials, inclusions and change-pricing rules, including in any attachments. If these details are missing, ask for them. The words “lump sum” alone don’t establish a problem.
Questions to ask about lump sumsIs a brand name enough to identify a material?
A brand can have different ranges and models. Identify the product, then check the relevant size, thickness, grade, colour or application specification. Not every item needs every field; the details should identify what you have actually agreed.
Check material specificationsCan SII review a quote before I have a formal contract?
Yes. Send the quotation PDF, clear photos or screenshots, along with any existing attachments. More information may still be needed. SII reviews documents; it does not select contractors, appraise market prices or provide legal or engineering conclusions.
See a sample report firstSTANDARD INTEGRITY INSTITUTE
Not sure what’s missing?
Send SII the quote you have. Start with Free Key Results to see which details in the document need further clarification.
Upload your quote for freeSend a PDF, clear photos or screenshots, including all pages and attachments. Results are emailed about 3–5 business days after receipt is confirmed.
SII evaluates documents, not contractors or people. Document Maturity is not a workmanship rating, a price guarantee or a promise of zero risk.
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