Why Getting Three Quotes Matters for Larger Jobs

 

When planning a larger plumbing or home-improvement job, many homeowners focus only on price. While cost is important, choosing purely on the cheapest figure—without checks—can expose you to serious risk. Here’s why getting at least three quotes is smart, and what else to check.

 

 

• Scope & inclusions vary: One quote might include premium materials, permits, CCTV reports or long warranties; another might not.
• Balance the extremes: The lowest price can signal shortcuts or missing insurances; the highest price may include extras or stronger guarantees. Three quotes help you compare like-for-like.
• Emergencies vs planned works: While some jobs are an absolute emergency and must be done immediately, most reasonable plumbing companies understand the importance of comparison. If the situation allows, they will accept your call, acknowledge your need to gather multiple quotes, and give you the time to make an informed decision.

Ask every contractor to confirm:

• NSW licence details (name, number, category).
• Public Liability and Workers Compensation insurance. Request the Certificate of Currency (it proves the policy is current).

 If they resist or get annoyed, treat it as a red flag.

• $5k–$20k: Contractors must provide a written Home Building Contract. In many cases, a detailed written quote that meets Fair Trading requirements can serve as the contract if accepted by both parties.
• Over $20k: Contractors must also provide Home Building Compensation (HBC) cover (formerly Home Warranty Insurance) before they start work or take any money. Always insist on the certificate.

• Incomplete work – if the contractor dies, disappears, becomes insolvent, or has their licence suspended.
• Defective work – if serious faults appear and the contractor cannot return to fix them.
• Timeframe of protection:
  
  • 6 years for major structural defects.
  • 2 years for non-structural defects.
• Costs covered: Up to $340,000 (NSW) to complete unfinished work or rectify defective work.

👉 Important: HBC is not the same as the plumber’s private insurance. It’s a mandatory consumer protection scheme under NSW Fair Trading. Without it, homeowners may have little or no recourse if the business folds.

 

Deposits and Payments

• Green flag: Contractors who calmly explain their process, inclusions, exclusions, warranties, and contract terms.
• Red flag: A contractor who keeps discrediting competitors instead of explaining their own value often signals potential issues with quality or professionalism. Choose teams who stay positive and transparent.

Ask Questions—It’s Your Money

For big maintenance jobs (e.g., sewer or stormwater renewals), avoid open-ended hourly rates and push for a fixed, all-inclusive quote with no potential variations (unless genuine surprises are uncovered and documented). This keeps risk and budget creep off the homeowner.

(Note: Building works fall under a separate category with different rules.)

Every plumber prices differently. If one quote is much cheaper, ask how each arrived at their figure. Differences may reflect:

• Warranty strength and post-job support.
• Materials/brands and compliance checks (e.g., CCTV reports, test results).
• Overheads like trained staff, specialist equipment, and insurances that protect you.

👉 At Enjoy Plumbing, we use sophisticated quoting software that factors in:

• Staff training and wages
• Insurances and compliance
• Overheads and warranty cover
• Quality materials and equipment

This often results in a higher upfront quote. That’s okay — because it ensures we are running a professional, sustainable, and compliant business that can serve customers for many years into the future. A higher quote typically reflects a company that is covering all obligations properly, operating responsibly, and putting customer protection first.

It’s common to hear, “My mate’s a plumber, he could do it cheaper.” Sometimes this can work out, but often it’s not the best option for larger jobs. A friend may not:

• Carry the correct insurances.
• Provide the legally required contracts.
• Be set up to offer long-term warranties.

👉 The best approach is to show your mate the full inclusions of professional quotes you’ve gathered. That way you can make an informed decision together, knowing what’s legally required and what risks may exist.

At Enjoy Plumbing, we frequently review customers’ other quotes and are more than happy to provide advice — even if we don’t win the job. Our goal is to help customers understand:

• The legal obligations plumbers must meet.
• The protections you should expect as a homeowner.
• The risks of cutting corners on insurance or compliance.

We are also proud members and strong advocates of the Master Plumbers Association of New South Wales, which represents professionalism, safety, and accountability across the industry.

Plumbing is not just about installing or repairing pipes. The continued support of your plumbing company is incredibly important to ensure lasting outcomes for your home and family.

Real-World Example

During a recent stormwater renewal project, Enjoy Plumbing completed the works and properly compacted the ground before finishing with topsoil and seeding a premium grass mix.

When discussing the restoration with the customer, they mentioned they had a large family function coming up and that turf would be a better option. We completely agreed and, at no extra charge, decided to re-turf the majority of their backyard.

This provided the customer with a much better result and peace of mind, while also showing that true value is about long-term relationships, not just the initial job.

A homeowner once chose the cheapest drainage renewal. No proper NSW contract was supplied, and no HBC cover was provided (the job later exceeded $20k after “variations”). The contractor folded, and failures emerged within 18 months. Result: the owner had to pay again to have the work redone.

Multiple quotes, the correct contract type, and HBC cover would have prevented the loss.

✓ Get three quotes for larger jobs.

✓ Verify licences and insurances; sight Certificates of Currency.

✓ From $5k–$20k, ensure you have a compliant written contract (a detailed quote may suffice).

✓ For over $20k, insist on HBC cover before any money changes hands.

✓ Deposits must not exceed 10% of the contract price (by law).

✓ Understand that material costs and supplier restocking fees may be non-refundable — contractors should always explain this upfront.

✓ Avoid hourly rates for large-scale residential maintenance — prefer fixed, no-variation quotes.

✓ Be cautious of contractors who discredit competitors; prefer those who explain their own value.

✓ Don’t rely solely on “my mate’s a plumber” — check inclusions, contracts, and insurances first.

✓ A higher quote often reflects professionalism, insurance, training, and sustainable business practices — not greed.

✓ Enjoy Plumbing is always happy to review competitor quotes and provide guidance, as part of our advocacy for professional plumbing standards through the Master Plumbers Association of NSW.

✓ True value includes ongoing support and care — as shown when Enjoy Plumbing went above and beyond by re-turfing a customer’s backyard to ensure the best outcome.