You have three interior quotations in front of you. One says ₹14 lakh, one says ₹18 lakh, one says ₹22 lakh. Your instinct says the middle one is "safe". It usually isn't – because the three quotes are rarely quoting the same home.
Here is the 7-step method we teach homeowners in our webinar to compare quotes line by line, before paying any advance.
Step 1: Make every quote room-wise
A single lump-sum number hides everything. Ask each firm to split the quote by room – kitchen, each bedroom, living, dining, puja, utility – with items listed inside each room. If a firm will not do this, that is your first answer.
Step 2: Match the scope, item by item
Put the three quotes side by side in a sheet. For each room, mark which items appear in all three. You will often find the cheapest quote is missing the loft, the crockery unit, the shoe rack or the false ceiling. Add those back before you compare totals.
Step 3: Check the board, not just the finish
| Line in the quote | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Carcass material | BWP / BWR plywood or HDHMR – and which grade near sinks and bathrooms |
| Shutter finish | Laminate, acrylic, PU or membrane – thickness and brand named |
| Hardware | Hinges, channels, lift-ups – brand named (for example Hettich or Blum), soft-close or not |
| Edge banding and back panels | Thickness of back panel; edge banding on all exposed edges |
Step 4: Find the "excluded" list
Most surprises sit in the exclusions: electrical work, civil changes, false ceiling, painting, lights, transport, debris removal, GST. Ask every firm for a written exclusions list and price what is missing.
Step 5: Compare measurements
Wardrobes and kitchens are priced per square foot. Check the square feet each firm has taken for the same wardrobe. A lower rate on a smaller measurement is not a lower price.
Step 6: Read the payment schedule and timeline
Payment should follow progress – booking, design freeze, production, installation – and the total should add up to exactly 100%. The timeline should be written into the agreement, with what happens if it slips.
Step 7: Ask who actually builds it
Is the furniture made in the firm's own factory, by a sub-contracted factory, or by carpenters on site? Who supervises your site day to day? Who handles after-sales service? These answers matter more than a ₹50,000 difference.
A simple comparison sheet
| Check | Quote A | Quote B | Quote C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Room-wise split given? | |||
| Same items in scope? | |||
| Board and hardware brands named? | |||
| Exclusions listed and priced? | |||
| Measurements match? | |||
| Payments add up to 100%, tied to progress? | |||
| Timeline and warranty in the agreement? | |||
| Who builds and supervises? |
Want help decoding your quotes?
Join our live Decode Your Interiors webinar – we walk through real quotations line by line. Or book a free design consultation and bring the quotes you already have.
Related: Before you pay an advance – agreement checklist · Full home turnkey interiors
FAQ
Why do interior quotations vary so much?
Usually because scope, materials, hardware, measurements and exclusions are different – not because one firm is simply cheaper.
Should I choose the cheapest interior quote?
Only after scope, materials and exclusions are matched. A lower total with missing items often ends up costing more.
What should a good interior quote include?
Room-wise items, board and finish specifications, named hardware brands, measurements, exclusions, a payment schedule adding up to 100%, timeline and warranty.