09 prices # Comparing builder quotes ## Summary No invented price ranges. What affects the price of Auckland building work, five steps to compare quotes fairly, and MBIE guidance on contracts, disclosure statements and checklists (required for residential work of $30,000 or more including GST). We do not publish price ranges, because we do not have quote data to back them. Instead, here is how to get a fair, comparable price. ## What moves the price * Scope and finish level: fixtures, tiles, joinery and appliances are often the biggest swing. * Site access, slope and soil: a steep or tight section costs more to build on. * Design and consent: engineering, council fees and resource consent for character areas or overlays. * Existing condition: rot, asbestos, old wiring or plumbing found once walls are open. * Timing and the builder's workload. ## How to get a fair price 1. Get at least three itemised written quotes for the same scope. 2. Ask what is excluded: consent fees, site works, appliances, waste removal, painting. 3. Ask how variations and provisional sums are priced before you sign. 4. Be careful with a quote far below the rest. Ask what is missing. 5. For residential work of $30,000 or more including GST, ask for the disclosure statement and checklist the builder must give you. ## Official guidance * [MBIE Building Performance: before building work starts (your rights)](https://www.building.govt.nz/getting-started/your-rights-and-obligations/homeowner-rights-and-obligations/know-your-rights-consumers/before-building-work-starts) * [MBIE Building Performance: consumer protection, disclosure statement and checklist](https://www.building.govt.nz/projects-and-consents/why-contracts-are-valuable/consumer-protection-disclosure-and-checklist) * [MBIE Building Performance: get the right people for your project](https://www.building.govt.nz/projects-and-consents/planning-a-successful-build/scope-and-design/choosing-the-right-people-for-your-type-of-building-work) [Send a project brief](/brief/)