Is it a quote or an estimate?
Check the word at the top first. In New Zealand a quote is an offer to do the job for a set price, and once you accept it, the roofer can't charge more unless you agree to extra work or the scope changes. An estimate is a best guess, and Consumer Protection says the final amount should generally stay within 10 to 15% of it. If a roofer wants a fee to prepare a quote, they have to tell you first.
What the law adds on top of the ten ticks
- For residential building work at or above $30,000 including GST, the contract must be in writing and dated, and the law says you must get the official disclosure information and checklist before you sign.
- On a smaller job you can still ask for the disclosure information and checklist, and the roofer has to provide them.
- The disclosure statement names the business, its key contact and their LBP number if they have one, its insurance and any guarantees on offer.
- Every residential building contract carries warranties by law that the work is done competently with suitable materials, even if nothing is written down.
Quotes that deserve a second look
- A big deposit. There's no legal need for one, and Consumer Protection suggests paying no more than 10% if you're asked.
- Payments that run ahead of the work done and materials on site.
- Nothing about scaffolding or edge protection on work that runs over several days.
- "COLORSTEEL" with no product named. Genuine sheets have the brand printed on the back, and NZ Steel suggests asking for a copy of the warranty.
- A door-knocker who wants a signature today. An uninvited sale comes with 5 working days to cancel.
How we'd use it
Run each quote through on its own, then line them up item by item. Where one leaves something out, ask that roofer to add it in writing rather than assuming it's included. Our guide to reading a roofing quote walks through each line, and our guide to checking an LBP shows how to look a roofer up on the public register. If you'd like another quote to compare, we'll pass your job to one checked local roofer.
Want a roofer to take a look?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match it with a Find My Roofer certified roofer who specialises in that kind of work, and they call you to quote. Your number goes to them alone.