Why two quotes rarely match

It's common to get two or three demolition quotes for the same Geelong house and find them far apart. Sometimes one demolisher is simply dearer. More often, the quotes describe different jobs: one includes the asbestos, the slab and a builder-ready finish, and the other covers knocking the house over and not much else. Before you decide on price, you need to know what each number actually buys.

This guide is about reading and comparing quotes. For what drives the price in the first place, see our guide "How Much Does House Demolition Cost in Geelong?"

Make the scope the same first

The easiest way to get comparable quotes is to give every demolisher the same brief. Write down, in a few lines:

The address, and whether the house is weatherboard, brick or double-storey.
Everything else that's coming out — garage, sheds, carport, pool, paving, driveway, retaining walls, trees.
What's staying — a fence, a crossover, particular trees.
How you want the block left: just cleared, or clean, level and ready for a new slab.
Your builder's rough start date, if it's a knockdown-rebuild.

If one quote then comes back noticeably cheaper, you can ask which part of the brief it has left out.

The line items to look for

A clear demolition quote breaks the job into parts. Check each one is either included, priced separately, or clearly excluded:

Site set-up. Temporary fencing, signage, and protection for neighbours' fences, buildings and retained trees.
Asbestos. Whether an asbestos inspection is included, whether licensed removal is priced as a firm amount or a provisional allowance, and whether disposal at a licensed facility and a clearance certificate are part of it. Our Asbestos-Aware Demolition & Disposal service explains why this has to happen before the structure comes down.
Permits. Whether the building permit and council Report and Consent are arranged within the quote or left to you and your building surveyor.
Service abolishments. Who coordinates the power, gas, water, sewer and telecommunications disconnections, and whether any provider charges are included or passed on.
The structure. The house itself, including verandahs, decks and attached carports.
Slab and footings. Whether the old slab, footings and stumps are broken out and removed, or left in the ground.
Extras. Sheds, garages, a pool, paving, the driveway and tree removal — each listed, not assumed. Our Garage, Shed & Pool Removal service covers the outbuilding side.
Disposal. Carting and tipping of all demolition material, and whether concrete, brick, timber and metal are separated for recycling.
Site finish. Raked clean and level, ready for the builder, or simply "house removed".

Provisional sums and exclusions

Read the fine print as carefully as the total. A provisional sum is an allowance for work that can't be priced exactly yet — most often asbestos, or something hidden like an old tank under the backyard. It isn't a fixed price, so a quote with a small allowance can look cheaper than one with a realistic figure. Ask how each allowance was worked out and what happens if the actual cost is higher.

Exclusions matter just as much. "Slab by others", "asbestos by others" or "permits by owner" can each move a large part of the cost back onto you.

Red flags in a cheap quote

No mention of asbestos on a house built before around 1990.
A single lump sum with nothing broken out.
No reference to permits, Report and Consent or service disconnections.
Vague wording about the finish, such as "site cleared" with no mention of the slab or footings.
A price given over the phone without anyone looking at the house or the access.
Reluctance to confirm registration or insurance.

Questions to ask every demolisher

Are you a registered demolisher in Victoria, and can I check that on the building regulator's register?
What insurance do you carry for damage to neighbouring property?
Who handles the asbestos, and is it licensed removal with a clearance certificate?
Is the slab and footing removal included?
What condition will the block be left in?
What isn't included, and what could change the price?

Compare timing as well as price

On a knockdown-rebuild, a cheaper quote that can't start until after your builder wants the block can cost more in delay than it saves. Ask each demolisher how long the job will take on site and how much notice they need. Our guide to how long house demolition takes in Geelong walks through each stage, so you can judge whether a quoted timeline is realistic.

Get a quote you can compare

We break our quotes into demolition, asbestos handling, disposal and site clearance so you can see exactly what's included and line it up against anyone else's. Send us the address, a few photos and your builder's start date, and we'll arrange a free site visit anywhere across Geelong, the Bellarine and the Surf Coast. For knockdowns, our Knockdown-Rebuild Site Preparation service covers the builder-ready hand-over.

Comparing Demolition Quotes in Geelong: What Should Be Included