Our independent builder quote reviews help UK homeowners understand what is included, what may be missing and where unexpected costs could arise before appointing a builder.
Get clarity on missing items, unrealistic pricing, vague specifications, and costly red flags before you commit to a renovation project.
Every project is reviewed personally by an experienced renovation contractor—not by an automated tool.
How it works
Choose the Right Builder Quote Review
First Check – £59
A concise review of one builder’s quote, highlighting obvious omissions, unclear items and initial concerns.
Full Check – £119
A detailed assessment of one builder’s quote, covering the scope, pricing allowances, potential risks and important questions to raise.
Full Comparison – £349
A side-by-side review of up to three builder quotes, showing important differences, omissions and relative risks.
How can we help?
When you receive a quote, it can be difficult to know:
- if it’s realistic
- if something important has been missed
- or if you’re about to overpay
This gives you a clear, independent second opinion before you commit.
I’m not tied to your builder, and I’m not trying to win the job — the goal is simply to give you a grounded, experience-based view of the numbers so you can move forward with confidence.
What you get is based on real-world building experience, not guesswork.
Why Are Builder Quote Reviews Useful?
Quotes often leave out key items
Different builders price completely differently
Cheap quotes can lead to expensive fixes
Issues usually appear once work has already started
The cheapest quote is often the most expensive mistake.
Who is this for?
Good fits:
- extensions
- refurbishments
- loft conversions
- listed buildings
- full house renovations
- large building projects
Less suitable:
- tiny handyman jobs
- emergency repairs
About me
Before You Build was founded by Ollie Dix, an experienced renovation contractor based in Bath.
I personally price, plan and deliver residential building projects, including extensions, refurbishments and listed-property renovations.
Every Before You Build review is completed by me, drawing on practical experience gained from real construction projects.
I created Before You Build to give homeowners access to that experience before they commit to a builder.
Local Building Experience. UK-Wide Quote Reviews.
Our hands-on experience delivering residential renovation projects in Bath and the surrounding area places us in a strong position to help homeowners across the UK understand builder quotations, identify potential risks and make more informed decisions.
Renovation Insight Articles
Practical homeowner guidance covering renovation quotes, builder pricing, provisional sums and common project risks.
- How to Compare Builders’ Quotes
- Why Builder Quotes Vary So Much
- What Is A Provisional Sum in a Builder’s Quote?
- Should I Choose the Cheapest Builder’s Quote?
FAQs
Before You Build is an independent builder quote review service designed to help homeowners better understand renovation, extension, and refurbishment quotations before committing to a contractor.
The aim is to identify missing items, vague specifications, unrealistic pricing, and potential risk areas that could lead to unexpected costs or disputes later in the project.
Reviews are carried out by an experienced UK renovation contractor with real-world experience pricing and delivering residential building projects, including extensions, refurbishments, structural alterations, and listed building renovations.
This is not an automated checking service or a generic comparison website.
We typically review:
- Extensions
- Full house renovations
- Loft conversions
- Structural alterations
- Kitchen renovations
- Bathroom renovations
- Listed building works
- Property refurbishments
We can also assist with projects already underway where concerns have arisen.
The more information provided, the more accurate and useful the review will be.
Helpful documents include:
- Builder quotations
- Plans or drawings
- Specifications
- Structural engineer information
- Schedules of work
- Photos of the property
- Emails or clarifications from builders
The cheapest quote is not always the cheapest project.
Many problems arise because:
- important items were omitted,
- specifications were unclear,
- allowances were unrealistic,
- or the builder priced the work differently to others.
A lower quote can sometimes lead to significant additional costs later in the build.
The goal of this service is to help reduce that risk before work begins.
You will receive a written review outlining:
- Missing or unclear items
- Potential budget risks
- Specification concerns
- Unrealistic allowances or pricing
- Questions worth raising with your builder
- General observations and recommendations
- Overall assessment of the quotation
The review is designed to help you make a more informed decision before proceeding.
Yes. Our Full Comparison service reviews up to three builder quotations side by side. It highlights differences in scope, missing or unclear items, pricing allowances and potential risks, helping you make a more informed comparison. The Full Comparison costs £349.
No — unless specifically requested.
This service is designed to provide independent guidance directly to you as the homeowner.
Yes. Before You Build Ltd is completely independent.
We do not receive commissions, referral fees or incentives from builders, suppliers or lead-generation companies. Our reviews are carried out solely for the homeowner.
No.
This service is not a building survey, legal opinion, quantity surveying service, or contract administration service.
The review is intended as practical construction guidance to help homeowners better understand quotations, specifications, and potential project risks before proceeding.
We can help identify strengths, concerns, omissions, and inconsistencies within quotations, but the final decision always remains yours.
The goal is to help you make a more informed and confident choice.
We can still help.
Many homeowners seek advice after concerns arise during a project, such as:
unexpected extra costs,
unclear variations,
missing works,
poor communication,
or concerns about quality and scope.
In these situations, we can review the available information and help provide clarity on the situation.
Turnaround times depend on the size and complexity of the project, but most reviews are completed within a few working days.
If a project is particularly large or urgent, this will be discussed before proceeding.
This service focuses primarily on reviewing and assessing quotations rather than producing full standalone estimates.
However, where appropriate, observations may be made regarding pricing realism, unusually low allowances, or areas where costs appear inconsistent with the scope of work.
As the service is remote, reviews can be carried out for projects across the UK.
Yes.
Documents and project information are treated confidentially and are only used for the purpose of carrying out the review.
This service provides practical opinion based on experience. It is not a formal survey or guarantee of final costs.