Most dodgy home-improvement quotes follow the same template. Once you know what to look for, you can spot a problem in 30 seconds. Here\'s the checklist.

The 11 red flags

  1. No ABN on the quote. Verify it on ABN Lookup. No ABN = no business.
  2. No state licence number for trades that require one (roller shutter installers in some states, electricians always). Check the state regulator\'s register.
  3. "From \$X" pricing. A real quote is a fixed total. "From" is the bait.
  4. No brand or model names. "Premium European motor" with no brand = generic. "Tier 1 panels" with no manufacturer = whatever is cheapest this month.
  5. Vague warranty language. "10-year warranty" must specify: on what (motor, shutter, install), by whom (manufacturer or installer), and what\'s excluded.
  6. Deposit over 30%. Normal is 10-30%. Anything higher: especially "50% to lock in this price". Is a cash-flow problem dressed as a discount.
  7. No site visit before quoting. Custom window coverings cannot be accurately quoted without measuring. Phone or email-only quotes are guesses.
  8. "Today only" pricing. The hard close. Real installers can hold pricing for at least 14 days.
  9. Refusal to provide references. A quality installer has 20+ past customers happy to talk.
  10. No physical business address. A mobile number, PO Box, and Gmail account is not a business.
  11. Pressure to use their finance. The mark-up on in-house "interest-free" finance is real: you\'re usually paying 15-30% more in disguised interest. Use your own loan or pay cash.

The fix in one paragraph

Take five minutes per quote to do these three things: look up the ABN, search the business name on Google for reviews, and read the warranty section twice. That\'s it. Most dodgy operators fall over on at least one of those checks.

Use our free quote comparison checklist alongside this list. It\'ll catch what these red flags miss.