How quotes change after design is locked
A quote given before design is finalised is provisional in places. Once the design is locked, your builder updates the quote against the final brief. Here's why and how.
If you received a quote from your builder before the design was finalised, the builder may need to update it as the design firms up. Clarifications and changes during the design phase affect what they're pricing — so the quote you signed onto at selection isn't necessarily the quote you'll take into the Home Improvement Contract. The article describes why and how.
Why a quote can move at this stage
A quote given against an in-progress design pack carries assumptions in places where the design isn't yet specific. Those assumptions get firmed up once the design is final.
- Materials choices that weren't yet specific become specific (a particular tile, a particular range, a particular fitting). Each choice has a price.
- Bespoke items — joinery, custom storage, specialist installations — get final dimensions and specifications.
- Quantities firm up: how much tile, how much paint, how many trims, how many appliances.
- Scope can shift if something has changed during the design phase — sometimes a layout decision affects what's structurally required.
In most cases, the quote moves a small amount in either direction. Bigger movements come from bigger design changes.
How the update flows
Your builder reviews the final design pack, updates their quote, and sends it through the platform. Your build advisor will walk you through the changes — what moved, why, and what (if anything) you might want to revisit.
If the updated quote works for you, you sign the Home Improvement Contract (HIC) against it. If it doesn't, you can talk to the builder about adjusting scope, materials, or sequencing — same options you had at the original quoting stage.
What this means for you
Expect the quote to move at design lock. Most of the time the movement is small and explainable. If it moves materially, your build advisor will help you understand why and what your options are. The article What is a change order describes how changes during the build itself work — the design-lock update is a different stage from change orders.
Related articles
- How to get builder quotes
- What's the difference between a Beams estimate and a builder quote?
- What is a change order