How to Compare Landed Rebuild Quotations in Singapore: A Like-for-Like Checklist
To compare landed rebuild quotations in Singapore, first put every builder on the same drawings, area definition, specifications and scope. Then separate fixed prices, allowances, exclusions and unresolved items.
A lower headline total is meaningful only when you know what it buys and what you must still fund separately.
This checklist is for a full landed house rebuild or new erection. It helps you prepare a fair comparison before selecting a design-and-build team.
Give every builder the same pricing pack
Start with one dated set of information. If one builder prices an early sketch and another prices developed plans, their totals answer different questions.
The same drawing revisions and proposed room schedule.
Available site survey, ground investigation and relevant services information.
A written specification for finishes, fittings and mechanical and electrical systems.
A list of owner-supplied items and optional features.
The intended project scope, access constraints and target programme assumptions.
Ask each builder to identify missing information. Keep a clarification log and share any changes to the pricing basis with all shortlisted teams. For the wider appointment sequence, see our builder engagement and rebuild contract guide.
Check the area behind any per-square-foot rate
A per-square-foot figure is difficult to compare without its measurement basis. Ask for the area schedule used in the calculation and how it treats stairs, voids, balconies, roof terraces, car porches and any basement.
Do not assume that land area, planning gross floor area and a builder's quoted built-up area are interchangeable. Compare the total for the same proposed house, then use the rate as a secondary check. If the proposed areas differ, have the teams reprice a common design rather than adjusting their totals with a rough multiplier.
Match the specification, item by item
Use the following checklist as rows in your comparison sheet. For each row, record the scope, specification, quantity, price status and clarification needed.
Site preparation: demolition, disposal, temporary services, site protection and access arrangements.
Structure: foundation assumptions, structural frame, roof structure and any retaining works. Flag piling or basement works separately where excluded or provisional.
Weather protection: roof build-up, waterproofing locations, windows, glazing and external doors.
Finishes: floor and wall materials, installation scope, stair finishes and painting systems.
Building services: air-conditioning equipment, electrical points, sanitary fittings, plumbing and testing.
External works: drainage, driveway, boundary walls, gate and landscaping.
Special features: lift, pool, solar, smart-home systems and specialist equipment, if requested.
“Premium finishes” is too broad to compare. Ask for named products, measurable performance requirements or clearly defined selection allowances. Check whether supply, delivery, installation, accessories and making good are included.
Separate allowances from confirmed prices
A quotation may label allowances Prime Cost (PC) or Provisional Sum (PS). Ask the builder to distinguish allowances for selections or specialist packages from allowances for incompletely defined work. Their precise meaning and adjustment rules depend on the quotation and contract. Ask what each allowance covers, what remains undecided, and how the final amount will be calculated.
For a sanitary ware allowance, for example, clarify whether it covers the fittings alone or also delivery and installation. For uncertain ground-related work, ask which investigation or design decision will allow a firmer price.
Record allowances separately from fixed-price work. An unresolved item should remain marked “unpriced” or “subject to clarification”; entering zero makes the comparison look more complete than it is.
Check fees, exclusions and owner-direct costs
Ask whether professional fees are included and list the appointments and deliverables covered. Professional fees, authority charges and construction costs are different categories. For structural submissions, BCA identifies the relevant Qualified Person (QP) as a registered Professional Engineer in civil or structural engineering. See BCA's structural plan guidance.
Record GST treatment explicitly. Where Hitomo's proposal provides for authority charges to be paid directly by the client at actual cost, carry those charges separately in the comparison. Confirm project-specific exclusions, including piling and basement works where applicable, rather than assuming the word “turnkey” includes them.
Keep owner purchases and accommodation outside the building contract visible in your overall budget, without counting any included item twice.
Ask for a revised, comparable quotation
Send each builder the same clarification questions:
Which drawing and specification revisions have you priced?
Which requested items remain excluded, provisional or unpriced?
What assumptions would change your price?
Who is responsible for each interface with an owner-appointed supplier?
Can you issue a revised quotation reflecting these agreed clarifications?
For each comparison row, keep the drawing reference, Builder A's treatment, Builder B's treatment and the written clarification together. For example, a quotation might include a lift shaft but exclude the lift equipment. This is an illustrative scope gap, not a price benchmark.
Compare the revised documents. Keep optional upgrades separate so that you can see both the common base scope and the cost of your preferred choices.
Frequently asked questions
Can I compare quotations before the design is complete?
Yes, for early budget discussions, provided the same assumptions are used. Treat the outcome as preliminary. Outstanding design and site information can still change the scope and price.
Is a lump-sum quotation automatically a problem?
No. A lump sum can still have a clear supporting scope, specifications, allowances and exclusions. Ask for enough detail to establish what the total includes.
Should I choose the lowest comparable quotation?
Price is one factor. Review the proposed team, relevant work, clarity of scope, delivery approach and how questions are resolved. A documented comparison helps you assess those differences.
Prepare a clearer rebuild brief
Explore Hitomo's design-and-build services and project portfolio. To discuss your landed rebuild, contact Hitomo with the property details, available plans, desired scope and budget. We can discuss the information needed to develop a project-specific proposal.
