How to read a home interior quotation, line by line
Most interior quotes are designed to be compared on the last page. Here is how to compare them on every page — area maths, unit counts, hardware brands and exclusions.
A designer walks you through a beautiful 3D render and hands over a PDF ending in one big number. That number is the least informative part of the document. The decisions that determine what you actually pay — and what you actually receive — are buried in unit rates, area definitions and a short exclusions paragraph near the end.
Step 1 — Normalise the scope before comparing rupees
Brand A quotes 11 units, Brand B quotes 9 units for 'the same' home. Until you list every unit side by side, you are not comparing prices — you are comparing different houses.
- Write out every room, and under it every unit: wardrobe, loft, kitchen base, wall units, tall unit, TV panel, study, crockery, dresser, pooja unit, bed, side tables.
- Mark units present in one quote and missing in the other. Missing lofts and crockery units alone account for ₹80,000–₹1.5 lakh in most 3 BHK gaps.
- Note quantities and sizes — a 7ft wardrobe against an 8ft wardrobe is a 14% material difference at the same 'rate'.
Step 2 — Understand which area is being billed
| Basis | What it means | Effect on your bill |
|---|---|---|
| Shutter / front area | Height × width of the visible front only | Lowest apparent rate; loft and internals often charged extra |
| Carcass / developed area | Total board surface used, including internals and shelves | Higher apparent rate but usually a more complete number |
| Running foot | Length × a standard height assumption | Fine for kitchens; hides height differences (7ft vs 9ft) completely |
| Lump sum per unit | One price for the whole item | Easy to read, impossible to verify — always ask for the area split |
Audited insight
The most common comparison error
Comparing a shutter-area rate of ₹1,450/sq.ft against a developed-area rate of ₹1,150/sq.ft and concluding the second is cheaper. Convert both to the same basis first — the ranking often flips.
Step 3 — Audit the hardware line
Hardware is typically 8–14% of woodwork value, and it is where mid-project substitution happens most often. 'Soft-close hinges' with no brand can mean a ₹90 hinge or a ₹380 hinge — across 120 hinges that is a ₹35,000 swing you never see.
- Insist on the brand and series for hinges, channels, tandem boxes, baskets and handles.
- Ask for the warranty term in writing, and whether it is the manufacturer's or the vendor's.
- Check the count: number of drawers, baskets and lift-ups is a quantity, not an adjective.
Step 4 — Read the exclusions paragraph first, not last
- Civil work, plumbing shifts, and electrical points — often excluded and later billed at ₹700–₹1,500 per point.
- Countertop, sink, hob, chimney and appliances — regularly outside the 'modular kitchen' line.
- False ceiling, painting and wallpaper — priced separately in most 'full home' packages.
- Loose furniture, curtains, lighting fixtures and décor — almost always excluded.
- Transport, site handling, loading charges and design fees — small individually, ₹40,000+ together.
- GST — 18% on most interior work. A quote 'excluding taxes' is not a comparable number.
Step 5 — Check payment terms and the change-order clause
| Clause | Reasonable | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Booking advance | 10% | 25%+ before design freeze |
| Milestone schedule | Design freeze / production / delivery / handover | One large payment before production |
| Change orders | Written approval with per-item rate | 'Rates as applicable at time of change' |
| Delay penalty | Defined per-week compensation | No mention of timelines at all |
| Warranty | 1 year service + 5–10 years on materials | 'As per company policy' with no document |
You are not negotiating a discount. You are negotiating a specification. Discounts on a vague scope are just cheaper vagueness.
Let us do the line-by-line for you
Upload two quotations and get a normalised, unit-by-unit audit report — scope gaps, area basis, hardware and exclusions. Free for your first comparison.
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