The quote is only one part of appointing a contractor. Two companies can submit near-identical prices for the same job and deliver very different experiences, depending on what's actually agreed before work starts. A short conversation covering the right questions, before anything is signed, is one of the cheapest forms of risk management available to a homeowner or a body corporate.

Questions about registration and credentials

Start here, because it frames everything else.

• Are you a registered company, and can I see proof of that registration?

• Do you belong to any industry association relevant to this work, and what does that membership specifically require of you?

• Do you carry your own public liability insurance, separate from any association requirement?

• Can you provide references from at least two recent, comparable jobs?

A contractor who is genuinely established should answer these without hesitation and without treating the question as an insult.

Questions about the scope of work and materials

Vague quotes are where cost overruns and disputes usually start.

• Exactly what work is included in this quote, and what is explicitly excluded?

• Which specific materials or products will be used, and why?

• If you find additional damage once work starts (a common scenario in roof repair and waterproofing projects, where hidden deterioration is only visible once tiles or membranes are removed), how will that be communicated and priced?

• Will the quote change if the scope changes, and how will that be documented?

Get the answer to the scope question in writing, not just verbally, before work begins — this single step prevents most disputes further down the line.

Questions about timelines and site management

• What is the realistic timeframe for this job, accounting for weather delays where relevant?

• Who will be on site day to day, and who is my point of contact if something goes wrong?

• How will the site be secured and cleaned up daily, particularly if I have children, tenants, or other residents on the property?

• If this is a multi-unit property, how will access to other residents' spaces be managed?

Questions about payment terms

• What is the payment structure — deposit, progress payments, final payment on completion?

• What percentage is required upfront, and is that reasonable relative to the size of the job?

• What happens if I'm not satisfied with a stage of work before making the next payment?

• Will I receive an itemised invoice, not just a lump-sum total?

Under the Consumer Protection Act, consumers have a general right to clear terms and a proper written record of what's been agreed — it's reasonable to expect this from any contractor, regardless of the size of the job.

Questions about insurance and liability

• If a worker is injured on my property, whose insurance covers that?

• If the contractor accidentally damages another part of my property during the work, how is that handled?

• For body corporates specifically: has the contractor confirmed compatibility with the scheme's own insurance requirements before work begins?

Questions specific to body corporates and shared property

Trustees and managing agents carry additional responsibility, since decisions affect multiple owners rather than a single household.

• Has the contractor worked on multi-unit or sectional title properties before, and can they provide relevant references?

• How will the contractor coordinate access with individual unit owners, where needed?

• Will the contractor provide documentation (inspection reports, photos, completion sign-off) suitable for the body corporate's records and AGM reporting?

Red flags to watch for in the answers

• Reluctance to provide anything in writing

• Pressure to pay a large deposit immediately, "to secure the price"

• Vague answers about registration or insurance, or an unwillingness to let you verify credentials independently

• No fixed address or verifiable business registration

• A quote significantly lower than others with no clear explanation for the difference

None of these automatically mean a contractor is dishonest, but they're worth pausing on rather than dismissing.

Frequently asked questions

Should I always get more than one quote?
Generally, yes. Comparing at least two or three written quotes for anything beyond a very small repair gives you a useful sense of what's a reasonable price and scope for the work.

Is a large upfront deposit normal?
Deposits are common for materials procurement on larger jobs, but the size should be proportionate to the job and clearly explained. If it feels disproportionately large relative to the total job value, ask why.

What should I do if a contractor refuses to put the scope of work in writing?
Treat this as a significant caution flag. A written scope, even a simple one, protects both parties and is a normal, reasonable request.

Do these questions apply equally to small repairs and large renovation projects?
The scale of the questioning should match the scale of the job — a small tile repair doesn't need the same depth of due diligence as a full re-roof or renovation, but the core questions (registration, scope, payment terms) are worth asking regardless of size.

Ready to get a written quote?

If you're planning roofing, waterproofing, or renovation work in Johannesburg or Gauteng and want a clear, written quotation to compare against other contractors, request a quote from RM Construction.