Choosing a company to carry out renovation work can quickly become a headache. Between technical terminology, different materials, grouped items and significant price differences, comparing several quotes is not always straightforward for homeowners.
That is the problem Laurent Van Obbergen set out to tackle with ecocompare.be.
The Brussels-based entrepreneur, who works professionally in B2B sales, launched his platform around four months ago to help homeowners better understand and compare renovation quotes. The idea came to him after spending several months working in the construction sector.
"I met hundreds of clients who were unfortunately struggling to navigate what is quite a complicated industry," he told The Brussels Times. "Quotes aren’t always comparable because the materials are different, items are grouped together, or there is sometimes less detail."
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Laurent Van Obbergen. Credit: handout
An analysis based on multiple criteria
While the platform uses artificial intelligence to analyse quotes line by line, the AI system does not simply select a "winner". Van Obbergen developed the scoring matrix himself and defined the criteria used by the system.
The tool looks at factors including the clarity of the quote, the level of detail provided for different items, the materials and brands specified, and the payment terms. Available information about the companies and their online reviews is also taken into account.
The aim is to provide homeowners with a more accessible way of understanding the differences between competing offers. "The objective is to provide a summary based on facts," Van Obbergen said. A quote may therefore receive a higher score because its individual items are more detailed, while another could score lower because costs are grouped together and are less transparent.
This means price is not the only factor considered. "The cheapest quote is not necessarily going to be the best one," he said. A particularly large deposit can also negatively affect a score, while elements such as a clear reference to the ten-year warranty or transparent payment terms can work in a quote’s favour.
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The founder also wants to avoid a potential pitfall: automatically presenting one quote as the "best" when all the offers being compared are poor. "If the three quotes being compared are mediocre, with problems concerning the companies being compared and identified by the AI, that will also be flagged," he said.
In other words, users could receive three low scores rather than a ranking that creates the impression that one contractor is necessarily recommended simply because it performed slightly better than the others. For now, users can compare up to five quotes at a time. Van Obbergen also intends to keep the service free for homeowners.
The platform is currently entirely financed by its founder through his self-employed business. Beyond the financial investment, the project has required a significant amount of time to develop and refine the tool. "The goal is not to make money from it. It is really just to cover the costs of the AI," he said.
What makes a 'good' renovation quote?
For Van Obbergen, a good quote should first and foremost be detailed and easy to understand. It should clearly break down the different works, specify the materials and, where relevant, the brands being used.
Prices should also be sufficiently detailed, so the customer understands what they are paying for. A reference to the ten-year warranty and "clear and fair" payment terms are also important factors.
However, the platform does not claim to replace the homeowner’s own research. "Even though the tool can help, you cannot necessarily know whether a company is financially sound or has good reviews. That is something you need to check separately," he said.
For now, Van Obbergen is focusing on three areas he knows particularly well: roofing, façades and solar panels. He has not ruled out expanding the platform to other types of renovation work in the future.
The tool is already being used by homeowners and is evolving based on their feedback. A feedback form was recently added to the platform. "I am really keen to receive feedback from users," Van Obbergen said, as he continues to refine the platform based on the comparisons being carried out.
