Two quotes for a pool or hot tub can show the same figure on the bottom line and still cover a completely different scope of work. One company includes excavation, the electrical connection, transport, crane handling, inspection and staff training in the price. The other offers the same amount for just the shell and the technology — everything else the customer orders separately, usually once the contract is already signed and backing out is expensive. The difference in such a “hidden” price easily reaches tens of thousands of crowns and surfaces exactly when it is hardest to negotiate.
This article shows how to compare quotes by the same scope, not by the last digit on the invoice — what exactly to check, what to ask the supplier, and which signals reveal that a cheaper quote is leaving out something essential.
Why comparing the total price alone makes no sense
The total price is the sum of many partial decisions — what scope of work the company included in the quote, what technology and materials it uses, how long and how specific a warranty it offers, when it will actually finish the job, and under what payment terms. When you only look at the final figure, you are in fact comparing two different products that happen to come out at a similar amount.
A typical example: quote A for CZK 480,000 includes groundworks, transport, installation of the technology, an electrical inspection and an hour of staff training. Quote B for CZK 460,000 lists only the supply and installation of the shell or liner — excavation, crane transport, the electrical connection and the inspection are “as actually incurred” and billed separately. Once the missing items are added up, quote B may end up more expensive than A — but the customer only finds this out once construction is under way.
Before comparing price, therefore compare the scope first. Only once both quotes cover the same items under the same conditions does it make sense to ask which one is cheaper.
What exactly to compare: a checklist and item table
The differences between quotes hide in six areas. Go through them for both quotes one by one, and for any item that is missing or only described in general terms, write down a question for the supplier.
1. Scope of work
What will the company physically do, and what is left to the customer or another contractor? Groundworks and base preparation, transport and crane handling, installation of the structure, connecting the technology, filling and first start-up, and cleaning the site afterwards.
2. Materials and technology
The quote should name a specific brand and model, not just a general category such as “quality filtration”. You need to know the pump and filtration output relative to the pool volume, the type and thickness of the liner or the shell material, the heating output and efficiency, and the method of disinfection.
3. Warranty
For pools and hot tubs, the warranty is usually split into three parts with different durations — the structure or shell, the technology, and the installation work carried out. The quote should state a specific number of years for each part, not just a general phrase such as “warranty as required by law”.
4. Completion date
You need a real start and completion date, not just an approximate “in spring”. Ask what happens in case of delay — whether there is a contractual penalty.
5. Payment terms
The size and timing of deposits, when the balance is due and under what conditions. A high upfront deposit with no link to progress on the work increases the risk.
6. What is NOT included in the price
This is where the most expensive surprises arise. Explicitly check with both suppliers whether the price includes: excavation work and soil removal, the electrical inspection, transport and crane handling, staff training and handover of documentation.
| Area | What to check | What is most often missing |
|---|---|---|
| Scope of work | Who does the excavation, installation, connection, start-up | Groundworks, site cleanup |
| Materials and technology | Specific brand, model, output | Filtration and heating parameters |
| Warranty | Years listed separately for structure, technology, work | Warranty on installation work |
| Completion date | Specific date, penalty for delay | Penalty for missing the deadline |
| Payment terms | Size of deposits, link to work progress | Conditions for the final payment |
| What is not included | Excavation, inspection, transport, training | Electrical inspection, crane, transport |
How to ask the supplier about the differences
The point of the following questions is not to catch the supplier out, but to understand why the quotes differ. A solid company can answer every one of them specifically and without hesitation.
- “What exactly is included in the price and what costs extra?”
- “Which brand and model of technology are you offering, and why this one specifically?”
- “Who handles the excavation, soil removal and the electrical connection?”
- “What is the warranty separately for the structure, the technology and the installation work?”
- “What is the binding completion date, and what happens if it is delayed?”
- “How do the payments work — how much and when is the deposit, when is the balance due?”
- “Who carries out the electrical inspection and staff training after handover?”
- “How does servicing and spare-parts availability work after the warranty ends?”
- “Can you provide a reference from a similar project, ideally with a customer contact?”
Red flags of a cheap quote
None of the following flags on its own means fraud. The signal is their accumulation, and above all how the supplier reacts when you ask about a missing detail.
- Vaguely described technology. Wording such as “complete technology” with no brand, model or output stated.
- Missing or only approximate deadline. “Completion in spring” instead of a specific date with a penalty clause.
- Warranty only “as required by law”. With no breakdown of years for the structure, technology and work performed.
- Items “as actually incurred”. Excavation, transport or crane use with no price stated or even an estimate.
- High deposit upfront. Payment approaching 100% of the price with no link to progress on the work.
- No verifiable references. A company with no track record of completed projects or unwilling to provide a customer contact.
- Verbal promises outside the written quote. “We’ll sort that out, don’t worry about it” for an item missing from the quote.
- Missing company identification. A quote with no company registration number, registered address or verifiable contact.
When a price difference is justified
Not every price difference signals a problem. Quotes legitimately differ depending on the actual quality of the materials and technology, whether the company works with its own trained installation team or subcontracts the installation, how busy it is that season, and the region. An experienced company with good references and a full diary can usually afford a higher price, because demand for its services exceeds its capacity.
Such a difference is not a reason for suspicion — it is a reason to ask exactly what it is based on, and to weigh it against the specific benefit, instead of automatically rejecting the more expensive quote or automatically accepting the cheaper one.
How to use the comparison in practice
The easiest way to make the comparison clear is to score both quotes using the same criteria — not just price, but also scope, warranty, completion date and references. Our quote comparison calculator is designed for this: you enter the parameters of both quotes and the calculator works out which one comes out objectively better, even if it is not the cheapest.
Before you finish comparing, also read the related article what to check in a pool or hot tub quote and contract. And if a noticeably cheaper option has caught your eye, first read a cheap pool quote: what might be missing from the price.
Don’t want to compare on your own?
If something still doesn’t add up even after comparing quotes, or you are only just starting to gather them, you don’t have to handle everything from scratch by yourself. Through the inquiry form, send a single request and get three comparable quotes from vetted suppliers straight away.
Frequently asked questions
Does it make sense to send a supplier a competing quote and ask why it is more expensive or cheaper?
Yes. The point is not to force a discount, but to understand the difference in scope. A solid supplier will explain what exactly it does differently. If the answer stays evasive, that is a signal in itself.
What must be included in the quote in writing?
The scope of the supply and work, the specific materials and technology, the price broken down by item, the completion date, warranty terms separately for the structure, technology and work, the payment terms, and liability for defects.
Is the cheapest quote automatically the worst one?
Not necessarily. The cheapest quote can be fine if it covers the same scope as the others. The problem arises when it is cheaper only because it leaves out something essential.
How many companies is it worth approaching before deciding?
Three comparable quotes are usually enough to see the spread in both price and scope.
What to do if a supplier refuses to break down the price by item?
Take it as a warning sign. Breaking the price down by scope of work, materials and services is a standard requirement for a project running into the hundreds of thousands of crowns.
How do I know that a warranty “as required by law” is not enough?
The statutory warranty does not distinguish between the structure, the technology and the work performed, which usually have different lifespans. A solid supplier gives a longer contractual warranty on the structure and a separately shorter one on the technical components.
Do I have to compare quotes manually, or is there a tool for it?
You can manage a manual comparison using the checklist, but for a faster result you can use the quote comparison calculator.
Next step
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