Should you get Multiple Build Quotes?
Brody from Lunchbox Architect wrote a great piece on How to Cut Costs on Your Project (Without Sacrificing Good Design). It’s an awesome article, and I was right there with him—nodding along to every point—until I hit number seven: Get multiple quotes and negotiate like a pro.
Competitive tendering has long been the standard method for pricing a project. It works well when your design is within grabbing distance of your budget—allowing you to compare builders, assess compatibility, and secure a competitive contract. And when managed by an experienced architect or building designer, the process is even more structured and strategic.
But here’s the issue: what if every quote comes back significantly over budget? At that point, all you’ve done is gather proof that your dream build costs more than anticipated. And when that happens, no amount of negotiation or specification massaging can bring it in line.
The reality is the competitive tender model typically prices a fully designed and documented project after the fact—when changes are difficult and costly. That’s where a different approach might serve you and your project better.
One approach that I’ve seen work successfully is a more collaborative model. Instead of waiting until the final stages, this approach invites a prospective builder into the process much earlier. That means they can:
Provide real-time cost feedback as plans evolve.
Offer buildability advice before construction detailing becomes problematic.
Recommend consultants they have solid working relationships with.
This doesn’t mean you’re locked into that builder, though ideally, the process will confirm they’re the right choice. What it does do is allow them to prove their value while giving you time to test the relationship before committing to an expensive build contract.
By working collaboratively from the outset, you can gain a clearer picture of your costs and potentially avoid the heartbreak of designing a home that simply isn’t financially viable. It’s about creating greater cost certainty rather than reacting to budget blowouts down the track.
So, while competitive tendering can work, it’s not always the best route. If you want to maintain control over your budget and vision, embracing a more collaborative approach might just be the key to a successful build.
PS: Are you a builder keen to work collaboratively on future projects, but are unsure how to offer this service? Let’s brainstorm it together. Book a ‘Cuppa with Katie’ and we can start to talk about collaborative strategy and implementation.