Define the scope before you compare the price.
A useful proposal comparison starts with one project brief and a Responsibility matrix. Mark every item included, excluded, allowed for or to be confirmed, then name the responsible party.
Building price is not automatically the total project cost.
A building-only figure describes only the scope stated in writing. A total project plan can also require site investigations, foundations, services, transport, placement, approvals, temporary works, professional services, taxes and owner-supplied work. Do not add a generic percentage. Identify each real line for the site.
The commercial modular cost guide explains the cost drivers. The tools here keep responsibility and proposal status beside each line.
What is included in a modular building quote?
There is no universal inclusion list. Scope is project-specific, so the written quote should state what is included, excluded, allowed for or still to be confirmed in every group below.
- Building and fit-out
- Structure, envelope, interior rooms, fixtures, finishes and installed equipment included in the building proposal.
- Foundation and site
- Investigations, clearing, grading, drainage, foundations or skids, access and the interface with the building.
- Services
- Water, wastewater, power, communications, connection points, testing and commissioning.
- Transport and set
- Route review, permits, escorts, staging, delivery, lifting or placement and temporary works.
- Approvals
- Design responsibilities, professional review, submissions, inspections, records and occupancy steps.
- Taxes, allowances and exclusions
- Applicable taxes, provisional amounts, owner-supplied work, exclusions and assumptions that can affect cost or timing.
Assign written responsibility for every item, including work outside the supplier's scope, before comparing the total.
Six scope groups.
- Building programme
- Use, capacity, rooms, accessibility, dimensions, fixtures and finishes.
- Site and foundations
- Investigations, clearing, grading, drainage, foundations or skids and the building interface.
- Services
- Water, wastewater, power, communications, connection points and commissioning.
- Transport and placement
- Route review, permits, staging, delivery, lifting or placement and temporary works.
- Approvals
- Design responsibilities, professional review, authority submissions, inspections and records.
- Handover
- Testing, deficiencies, training, documents, occupancy responsibilities and warranty contacts.
Compare proposals on the same basis.
- Freeze one version of the project brief for the comparison.
- List the required specification and scope item once.
- Copy each proposal's exact inclusion, exclusion, allowance or qualification.
- Name the party responsible for work outside the building proposal.
- Flag assumptions that change cost, schedule or interfaces.
- Resolve material differences in writing before choosing on total alone.
Download the proposal comparison CSV, or use the full project brief workbook.
Transport and phases need owners too.
Route review, final approach, staging and placement should be explicit scope lines. Read transport and site-access planning. For multi-building housing, connect the same matrix to the development phasing guide.
Scope questions.
What is a modular project responsibility matrix?
It is a shared table that lists each scope item, the responsible party, status, source and required decision date. It makes gaps between the building, site, services, transport, approvals and handover visible before proposals are compared.
Is building price the same as total project cost?
No. A building price may exclude foundations, site preparation, services, transport, placement, approvals, taxes or other work. The written proposal and responsibility matrix must identify what applies to the specific project.
How should two modular proposals be compared?
Start with one project brief, then compare the same specification and scope line by line. Record whether each item is included, excluded, allowed for or still to be confirmed, who owns it and which assumption affects cost or schedule.