When you start comparing builders, it’s natural to focus on the headline price. But here’s the truth: the dollar figure shown on a website or brochure doesn’t always mean that's the total value of the build.
Why? Because different builders include different things as “standard,” and also many costs depend on your site conditions.
✘ The goal isn’t to compare prices in isolation.
✔ The goal is to compare the same scope.
If you take one idea from this article, make it this: Compare apples with apples.
At Anchor Homes, we speak with people every week who are doing the right thing by researching early. The most common challenge we see is not a lack of effort, it’s that pricing can be presented in different formats. So in this article we've outlined a simple, best-practice way to compare builder pricing efficiently.
3 Simple Steps To Compare Home Builder Pricing
Step 1: Use base pricing to shortlist, but only after you check inclusions and exclusions
A base price is a starting point. It helps you narrow down options, but it can’t be judged properly unless you know what’s included and what isn’t.
Step 2: Compare project-specific quotes
Once you have your shortlist, this is where your comparison becomes meaningful. A quote that reflects your block and requirements helps you plan realistically.
Step 3: Choose based on value and experience, not just the number
Building a new home isn’t just a transaction, it’s a process. The builder you choose affects communication, stress levels, confidence, and the overall experience.
Let’s walk through each one in a practical way.
Step 1: Make Base Pricing Useful
Base price lists are popular because they’re easy to compare at a glance.
The catch is that builders can define “standard” very differently. That’s why two base prices can look similar while representing very different homes. A good approach is to treat base pricing like the “cover” of a book. It tells you the general direction, but the real detail is inside the standard inclusions and standard exclusions.
A) Check Inclusions
At Anchor Homes, we recommend reviewing price list and our standard inclusions early. It helps you understand what you’re actually getting, and it makes comparisons far more accurate.
When comparing inclusions, these are the areas to consider:
• Preliminaries: Approvals, insurance and warranties
• Exterior: Core structure, footing system, and external wall cladding
• Insulation: Standard insulation included through the home
• Doors & Windows: Standard windows system including glass type, external doors etc
• Interior: Standard internal linings, doors, trims & door hardware
• Floor Coverings: Standard floor finishes
• Kitchen: Standard kitchen cabinetry, finishes & appliances
• Bathrooms/Laundry: Fixtures, fittings, finishes in wet areas
• Electrical: Standard electrical fit-out included in the home
• Plumbing: Standard plumbing items & hot water system
• Painting: Standard internal and external painting
• Delivery: Delivery to site to your location
Real Example: Anchor Homes standard inclusions include aluminium double-glazed awning windows and sliding doors in bedrooms and living areas. Other builders may include single glazing as standard in those same spaces. That difference can affect comfort, energy efficiency and overall value, and it also affects cost. The point isn’t that one option is “right” for everyone, it’s that you should know what you’re comparing.
B) Check Exclusions
Exclusions aren’t automatically bad. Many are site-specific, meaning they can’t be accurately priced until your builder understands your land.
Common exclusions to look for include:
• Earthworks, drainage and retaining walls
• Foundations or costs to elevate the home on a slope
• Service connections (power, water, sewer, stormwater)
• Decking, stairs, carports and garages
• Engineering and permit fees
• Upgraded fitting and fixture options
For modular homes, you also need to consider the cost of delivery. At Anchor Homes, we include the cost of delivering your home in the base price because we see it as a core part of the build. Other modular builders may exclude delivery, which can make the initial price look lower than it will be in practice.
Installation is another area to take into consideration. Some sites require a crane depending on access and conditions. Not every job requires this, so at Anchor Homes it isn’t included automatically in the base price. Instead, it’s added on at the quotation stage if deemed necessary for the specific site.
Helpful Tip: If an exclusion might apply to your site, ask for an itemised quote with clear allowances (Step 2 below). That way you can understand what’s likely, what may not apply, and what needs further investigation.
This is the heart of apples-with-apples pricing: you are comparing the full picture, not just the headline.
Step 2: Use A Project-Specific Quote For Clarity
Once you’ve done a baseline comparison, the next step is where most people start to feel confident: a project-specific quote.
Why project-specific quotes matter
Your block of land can change costs significantly. Even with the same home design, pricing can shift based on things like slope, access, bushfire requirements (where relevant), and service availability.
What Anchor Homes does differently
At Anchor Homes, we put a lot of effort into the discovery phase so we can provide a detailed sales estimate early. We can only quote based on the information available, but we aim to be thorough and include allowances for items other builders often miss, so you can plan with more confidence.
Two questions to ask every builder
When you receive a quote, ask:
• Have you assessed my site properly, and is that reflected in the quote?
• What assumptions and allowances have you made to get to this price?
Why assumptions and allowances are important
At the quoting stage there are often unknowns. You might know the home design and finishes, but final details may not be confirmed yet for things like soil test results, bushfire rating (BAL), energy rating, wind rating, the extent of slope on your land, and other technical inputs.
To give you a useful estimate, a builder often needs to make reasonable assumptions and include allowances, ideally showing a realistic or worst-case scenario rather than leaving gaps.
Example Scenario:
One builder might say: “We don’t have a BAL rating yet, so we won’t include anything for bushfire requirements.”
That can make a quote look lower, but it isn’t always helpful because it leaves a cost gap you may still need to cover later.
At Anchor Homes, we aim to be realistic and transparent. If your BAL rating isn’t confirmed, we’ll look at similar projects we’ve delivered in the area and make a sensible assumption (for example, “this may be around BAL-29”). We’ll clearly label it as an assumed cost and include the relevant upgrades until the rating is confirmed. It may end up being less or more, but having an allowance in place is far better than having no coverage at all.
Use this checklist when comparing quotes:
• Have they considered slope and how the home will sit on the land?
• Have they considered bushfire requirements if relevant?
• Have they allowed for access constraints that affect delivery and installation?
• Are the site-related assumptions and allowances clearly written down?
The key takeaway
A quote is only truly comparable if it’s built on similar assumptions. If one builder has taken site realities into account with transparent allowances and another hasn’t, you’re not comparing apples with apples. You’re comparing different levels of detail.
Step 3: Compare The Builder, Not Just The Price
Once you’ve done the hard work of comparing pricing properly, it’s time to look at the factors that shape your experience.
Building a home is a major investment, and it’s also a relationship. Choosing a builder you trust can reduce stress and improve the process from start to finish.
Here are a few non-price checks that help:
A) Reviews and reputation
Look for consistent feedback about communication, timelines, problem-solving, and aftercare. Patterns matter more than one-off comments.
B) Proven results
A builder’s track record shows quality and consistency. You can view the Anchor Homes projects page to view completed homes. You can also view our social media for real-time updates of current projects.
C) See quality in person
If you can, visit display homes or take a factory tour. It’s one of the easiest ways to feel confident in what you’re paying for.
Anchor Homes has four display homes across Victoria and offers a factory tour, and you can arrange a visit to one of our locations via our website.
D) Memberships and associations
Industry memberships can reflect professionalism and commitment to standards.
At Anchor Homes, we’re proud members of PrefabAUS and Master Builders Victoria, and we’re also recognised as a Commonwealth Bank (CommBank) Assessed Manufacturer.
E) Experience and stability
Time in business isn’t everything, but it can matter when it comes to systems, quality control and guidance.
Anchor Homes has been building for 20+ years, and we bring that experience into every stage of the journey.
Need More Help Comparing?
Comparing builders doesn’t have to be stressful. The best results come from a calm, consistent approach:
Step 1: Confirm inclusions and exclusions
Step 2: Compare project-specific quotes based on your site
Step 3: Choose a builder you trust for a great experience
If you’d like help reviewing inclusions or comparing quotes, the team at Anchor Homes can assist.
We’ll help you understand what sits behind the numbers so you can make a confident decision about which builder to partner with. Contact us today!
