Demolition & Site Clearance · Question

How do I compare demolition quotations that cover different scopes of work?

Short answer

Build one comparison sheet with every activity listed in rows and each contractor in a column, then mark what is included, excluded or unclear. Ask each bidder to price the missing items or confirm them as nil. Only after the scopes match should you compare totals. The lowest figure often belongs to the quote that quietly leaves out the costly parts.

In more detail

Quotations differ because contractors imagine different jobs. One prices the structure only, another includes carting debris, a third assumes you will clear the foundation. Comparing the bottom lines is like comparing a car with and without wheels.

Start by writing a neutral scope list from your own side: what must come down, to what level, what services will be disconnected and by whom, what happens to debris and salvage, how the ground is left, and what permissions are needed. Then test each quotation against it.

Questions that expose the gaps:

Does the price include loading, transport and lawful disposal of debris, or only breaking?
Are foundations, floor slabs and underground tanks or pits included?
Who disconnects and certifies the end of utility services?
Is protection for neighbouring property, screening and dust control priced?
What are the arrangements for salvage, and is any value credited to you?
Which permissions and notices does the contractor handle, and which stay with you?
How is a hidden condition treated, as a rate, a variation or a stop?

Beware of vague lump sums

A single figure with no breakdown makes later additions hard to challenge. Ask for an item-wise split, even if the contract stays lump sum, so variations have a reference point.

Also compare how each bidder approached the job. A contractor who visited the site, asked about neighbours and described a sequence is pricing a real plan. One who sent a figure by message after a glance is pricing a guess. Check licences, insurance and references on the same sheet.

Finally, record what you agreed in the work order, not in conversation.

Key points

Normalise scope first, then compare price.
List activities as rows and contractors as columns, marking included, excluded or unclear.
Debris disposal, foundations, utility disconnection and neighbour protection are the usual gaps.
Ask for an item-wise breakdown even under a lump sum.
Weigh the site visit and method described, not only the total.

Who this applies to

Owners holding two or three quotations that do not match line by line.
Project managers preparing a clean tender for site clearance.
Business owners who want to avoid surprise charges mid-job.

Last reviewed 3 October 2026

This answer is general information, not advice on your particular case. Terms, eligibility, and requirements change, so check the current position with the relevant institution or authority.