How to compare landscaping quotations

Give contractors the same brief

Provide the same photographs, measurements and priorities so that the proposals are comparable. Explain any access restrictions and what you expect to retain. If one quotation includes a larger area or different material, ask for that difference to be made clear before comparing the totals.

Look for the work below the finish

Check excavation, disposal, preparation, drainage, edges and reinstatement. A line such as “new patio” does not tell you whether removal of the old surface is included. Ask for the proposed materials and system, with any assumptions about existing ground. Understand which items are provisional and how their final cost will be established.

Agree changes and payment stages

Ask how additional work will be explained, priced and approved before it proceeds. Keep an agreed written record of changes to materials or layout. Review payment terms, expected sequencing and how delays will be communicated. Clarify responsibilities for permissions and specialist design rather than assuming another party has arranged them.

Check the handover and aftercare

Ask what completion checks, care instructions and warranty information you will receive. Read any warranty terms and exclusions instead of judging by the headline duration alone. Relevant project examples and independently sourced feedback can support your decision. Choose the proposal you understand and that meets your priorities, not simply the shortest description or lowest total.

Related guides

• Planning a complete garden transformation