To compare kitchen quotes fairly, start with the same layout and a clear list of what each proposal includes. A lower total might reflect a different worktop, fewer internal fittings or installation work that has been left out. A higher total might include choices you do not need. The useful question is what each price buys for your particular room.
This checklist helps you organise those differences before deciding. It is a list of items to confirm with each supplier, rather than a promise that every item is included in a Modenhaus quotation.
1. Start with the same room plan
Put the latest plans beside the quotes. Check that each proposal uses the same room dimensions, door and window positions, appliance locations and intended layout. A kitchen with an island is not directly comparable with one using a single wall of cabinetry, even if the overall room is the same size.
Give each proposal a date or version number. If you remove a cabinet or change an appliance during a design meeting, ask for an updated itemised quote so that you are not comparing an earlier specification with a revised one.
- Count the base, wall and tall units.
- Identify panels, plinths, fillers and any decorative or finishing pieces.
- Check which dimensions still need confirmation at the site survey.
- Record any assumptions about walls, floors and existing services.
If you are still preparing a room plan, our kitchen measuring guide explains what to record before the professional survey.
2. Compare cabinetry and storage in detail
The range name alone does not describe a complete kitchen. Ask for the chosen front, finish, handles or opening method, and the internal fittings. A cupboard with shelves and one fitted with drawers or a pull-out mechanism serve different needs and may have different prices.
Write down the storage that matters to your routine: pans near the hob, accessible everyday crockery, food storage, recycling or space for small appliances. Then check whether the proposal actually provides it. Separating essentials from optional additions makes it easier to refine a design without losing the features you value.
For the ranges we offer, explore our German kitchens and Schüller versus next125 comparison.
3. Break down the worktop specification
Compare the exact surface, finish, thickness and edge detail. Confirm the worktop area and whether the quote includes an island end, upstands or a splashback. Ask which cut-outs, joints and finishing details have been allowed for.
Check who measures and templates the surface, who installs it and how that stage fits around the cabinetry and appliances. If a material has not yet been selected, make sure the quote identifies the allowance and explains when it will be replaced with a confirmed price. Our stone worktop options are a useful starting point for choosing samples.
4. Match appliance models, not just brands
Two ovens from the same manufacturer may have different capacities and functions. List the exact model numbers for the hob, oven, extraction, refrigeration, dishwasher and any specialist appliances. Note whether an appliance is new, retained from your existing kitchen or supplied separately.
Confirm delivery, fitting and connection responsibilities. Ask how the design accommodates ventilation, door opening and servicing for the selected models. Those details should be checked against the actual products rather than assumed from a showroom display. See our appliance options for the categories to discuss.
5. Make installation and preparatory work explicit
“Installation included” needs a clear scope. Ask what happens before the new cabinetry arrives and which tasks are handled by the kitchen supplier, your builder or another trade. An unpriced task can still be necessary for the project.
- Removal of the existing kitchen and disposal of waste.
- Plumbing, electrical work and alterations to services.
- Wall or floor preparation, plastering, decorating and flooring.
- Cabinet fitting, worktop templating and worktop installation.
- Appliance connections and any required product-specific checks.
- Final adjustments, snagging and the handover.
Ask who coordinates the sequence and who you should contact if the room is not ready on the planned date. Our design and installation process explains the stages to discuss with the studio.
6. Separate fixed prices from allowances
Check whether each displayed total includes VAT, and ask for a clear explanation of any exclusions, provisional allowances or optional upgrades. Record the quote's validity period and the proposed payment stages. If a price depends on a survey or a final material choice, make that dependency visible in your comparison.
Ask how changes are priced and confirmed before the work proceeds. Keep a written record of the agreed specification and revised totals, particularly when several people are involved in the project.
7. Use a simple comparison worksheet
Make one copy for each proposal. Leave a question wherever the scope is unclear rather than assuming that a blank line means the item is included.
| Item | Record the specification | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinetry | Range, fronts, unit schedule, panels and storage fittings | Does this match the latest plan? |
| Worktops | Material, thickness, edges, cut-outs and splashbacks | Are templating and installation included? |
| Appliances | Exact models and any retained appliances | Who supplies, delivers and connects them? |
| Room preparation | Removal, services, walls, floors and waste | Which tasks need a separate quote? |
| Installation | Fitting stages, coordination and final adjustments | Who is responsible for each stage? |
| Total and aftercare | VAT treatment, allowances, payment stages and support | What is confirmed, and what can still change? |
Download the editable kitchen quote worksheet (CSV). It opens in a spreadsheet and includes columns for specification, inclusions, exclusions, allowances and questions.
8. Decide what matters most to your home
Once the scope is clear, compare the practical result: enough preparation space, storage you can reach, appliances you will use and finishes you want to live with. Ask about lead times and aftercare for the chosen specification. A confident decision comes from understanding the proposal, rather than choosing by the headline total alone.
Planning a kitchen in Ruislip or the surrounding area? Book a design consultation and bring your plans, priorities and intended budget. You can also arrange a showroom visit to discuss the ranges and finishes.
