It’s tempting to keep calling the same reliable trades we’ve worked with for years, the relationship is there, the communication is easy, and we trust they’ll show up. However, sticking with the “usual suspects” without ever testing the market is one of the biggest mistakes a builder can make. A balance between trust having them on your site, delivery and pricing isn’t just good practice, it’s essential! Getting multiple quotes can ensure you’re making informed decisions.
Here’s why it still matters even in 2025:
Consider obtaining multiple quotes from various subcontractors to maximize your project’s potential.
- Sharper, More Competitive Pricing
When subcontractors know they’re competing, they sharpen their pencils. You’ll often see 10–25% savings on the same scope of work simply because they want the job. Those savings go straight to your margin or give us room to add value for our client! - Stay in Touch with Real Market Rates
Material prices, labour shortages, and fuel costs change fast, especially in NZ as we are very remote and rely heavily on imports of materials, even if we support local manufacturing! Multiple quotes give you an accurate, real-time snapshot of what work should actually cost right now, not what it cost on a project six months ago. This means no variations or surprises for you! - Higher Quality and Better Performers
Price is only half the story. Comparing quotes lets us properly evaluate track records, recent projects, health & safety ratings, insurances, references and even more! We don’t award work on “gut feel” and choosing the subcontractor who’s genuinely performing the best is then possible. - No More Being Held to Ransom
We’ve all been there, your regular sparky is suddenly booked out for 10 weeks or bumps their price because they know you have no alternative. A wider pool of vetted subcontractors removes that single-point dependency and keeps our programme on track with a back to call at any time availability may become a problem so that your project don’t stand still at any stage, influencing your personal life too. - Fresh Ideas and Modern Methods
New players in the market often bring off-site fabrication, new products, or smarter sequencing that your long-term companies may not haven’t adopted too yet. A bit of healthy competition keeps everyone from getting complacent and keeps growth and quality standards high! - Stronger Negotiation Leverage
Walking into a pricing meeting with three solid alternative quotes changes the conversation completely. Better rates, tighter timelines, longer warranties and variations they meant to exclude are suddenly included on that table. - Keeps Everyone Accountable
Subbies perform better when they know they’re being benchmarked regularly. The ones who want ongoing work with you will maintain high standards instead of coasting on past favours. - The Bottom Line
Getting multiple quotes is about running a professional, profitable business in a competitive market. The extra couple of hours you spend up front will save you thousands on the job and reduce headaches tenfold. Its as simple as that and if your contractor isn’t doing this for you or with any project, then they maybe taking shortcuts that will cost you! The easiest way to do it in 2025?
Use Retro Construction, who has already done the homework for you!
