Frequently asked questions

MyBuildAlly gives UK homeowners an independent second opinion on builder quotes. It sets the quote total against a modelled cost range for the job and region, identifies scope gaps and missing trades, and flags building regulation points, so you know what to settle before you sign.

Upload your builder's quote as a PDF, photo, or document. We read every line for what the quote covers and what it leaves out, set the total against a modelled cost range for the job and your region, and flag building regulation points and certification gaps. The check usually takes a few minutes. See a sample report for an example, or read how the check works.

MyBuildAlly is designed for UK homeowners planning building work, whether it's an extension, loft conversion, new build, or renovation. You don't need any construction knowledge to use it. It is especially useful if you've received a quote and want to know whether it's fair before signing.

Most cost calculators give a single number. MyBuildAlly breaks costs down by up to 14 trades, adjusts for your region, compares procurement routes, and reads your actual builder quotes for scope gaps and how the total sits locally. It is an automated check, not a quantity surveyor: it reads what the quote says and tells you what to ask before you sign.

Yes, completely free with no signup required. You get a full trade-by-trade cost breakdown covering up to 14 categories, adjusted for your region, there on screen. You can save it as a PDF too, without an account.

Quote analysis is £10 per project, paid once. Signed in, you get one free check on your account. Anonymously, you get one free check per browser session. After that, £10 unlocks the full report and the comparison across the quotes on that project.

No. Each project is a one-off payment. Pay only when you need another analysis.

Up to six on one project, which is the most a comparison can read clearly. Uploading them is free; £10 unlocks the comparison between them and the full report.

Yes, and no card is needed. Signed in, you get one free check on your account. Anonymously, you get one free check per browser session. After that a project is £10, paid once. Check a quote to get started.

You can upload builder quotes as PDFs, photos (JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP), or documents (DOC, DOCX, ODT). We read the text and line items from the file automatically, with no manual data entry needed.

The price benchmark is a modelled range built from published UK cost guides (Checkatrade, MyJobQuote, Which? and trade price guides), adjusted by regional labour-rate factors for the job type, size and specification. It is not a survey and not a set of real quotes from your postcode, and the check reads the quote as an automated model with deterministic checks on the totals, so it can be wrong. Treat the findings as questions for your builder, and confirm anything that matters with a professional. How the check works sets out each step and its limits.

We cover 14 trade categories including groundworks, structural, roofing, plumbing, electrical, plastering, joinery, and more. Project types include extensions, loft conversions, new builds, bathroom and kitchen renovations, garage conversions, and individual trade jobs.

A check usually takes a few minutes. A long or scanned document can take longer, and the progress screen tells you if it is still reading. You can leave the page and come back to the same link.

Yes, that's one of the most powerful features. Upload quotes from different builders, and MyBuildAlly will compare them side by side, highlighting price differences, scope gaps between quotes, and which builder offers the best value.

The report covers how the quote total sits against a modelled range for the job and region, scope gap detection (missing trades or items), a design check with building regulation references, and specific questions to ask your builder. See a sample report for an example.

The benchmark is a modelled range built from published cost guides, and the findings come from an automated read of the document, so both can be wrong and every project is different. The analysis gives you an independent second opinion, not a guarantee. If something looks off, use the findings as a starting point for a conversation with your builder. For large or unusual projects, we recommend also consulting a quantity surveyor.

No. The free cost estimator works without any signup. Just enter your project details and get an instant estimate. You can also upload a builder quote and see its verdict without an account; you only need one when you unlock the full £10 report.

Head to Check a quote and drag and drop a PDF, photo, or document. We read all line items automatically and begin the analysis. No signup is needed to see your verdict.

Yes. MyBuildAlly is fully responsive and works on mobile phones and tablets. You can upload quotes, view reports, and compare builders from any device with a web browser.

Yes. We don't sell leads, share your details with builders, or monetise your data. Your uploaded quotes are processed for analysis only.

No. We don't sell leads, share your details with contractors, or monetise your data in any way.

Your data is held by named providers: Render in Frankfurt for the database and Cloudflare R2 for the documents, both reached over encrypted connections. Quote files are processed for analysis and kept so you can reopen your projects and reports. Deleting a project removes it and the documents behind it, and you can ask us to delete everything we hold about you.

A second quote tells you one builder's price, and two quotes are rarely for the same job: the cheaper one is often cheaper because it covers less. MyBuildAlly reads every quote you receive, shows you item by item what each one leaves out, then how it sits against regional rates, and gives you the questions to ask each builder.

MyBuildAlly is a fast, affordable first check, not a replacement for a quantity surveyor. It reads what the quote says; a surveyor visits, measures and takes responsibility for the advice. For a typical residential job it gives you the gaps and the questions to settle before you sign. For a large or unusual build, use it as the starting point before engaging a QS.

Checkatrade helps you find builders. MyBuildAlly helps you check their quotes. They serve different purposes and work well together: find trusted tradespeople on Checkatrade, then analyse their quotes with MyBuildAlly.

Yes, getting 3+ quotes is always good practice. MyBuildAlly makes those quotes more useful by helping you compare them intelligently, spot what's missing from each, and understand which offers genuine value.