QuoteCheck launches AI tool to cut insurers’ repair bills

Australian start-up QuoteCheck has launched a software platform that checks the cost of building repair quotes for insurers using live regional price data.

The Sydney-based company targets the insurance and building repair sector. It focuses on home and property claims where repair costs have climbed in recent years.

QuoteCheck says its software analyses each line item in a builder's quote. It compares the costs against a continually updated database of building rates from around Australia.

Insurers have faced strong cost inflation in building materials and labour. They have also faced uneven price rises between regions and trades.

Many insurers still rely on multiple quotes or static benchmark lists when they validate repair costs. These methods often lag actual market prices in fast-changing conditions.

QuoteCheck positions its service as an alternative reference point. It presents its data as an independent benchmark that reflects current local market rates.

"Insurers are increasingly exposed to rapid and uneven cost inflation in building repair. The old 'two-quote' approach is often unreliable and lacks the data to demonstrate what's fair," said Stephen Browne, Managing Director, QuoteCheck.

QuoteCheck says its system checks every quote against a national library of peer-set building rates. It says builders in each region contribute the underlying rates over time.

The company states that the database covers multiple trades and regions. It also states that rates are regionalised, so each quote is tested against local conditions.

QuoteCheck reports an average 12% reduction in building repair costs among early users. These users include insurers and other claims organisations.

The company says it has worked with foundation clients for more than three years. It says this period provided data on real-world repair jobs and quoting patterns.

Data-led review

The platform runs on a software-as-a-service model. It sits outside insurer core systems and does not require separate IT integration.

Builders, loss adjusters or claims staff send a quote to QuoteCheck. The system then generates a marked-up version of the same quote.

QuoteCheck says it returns this marked-up quote within four hours. It says this turnaround time means claims teams avoid delays in claim lifecycles.

The output uses a traffic-light format for each cost item. Green items sit within tolerance levels, while amber and red items flag potential variances.

QuoteCheck says this structure supports negotiation between insurers and builders. It says it also generates management information on pricing trends.

The company states that users can compare rates by builder, by trade, by region and by peril. It says this segmentation helps claims teams identify outliers and patterns.

AI-driven process

The platform uses artificial intelligence to process large volumes of quotes. This technology automates the checking of item descriptions, quantities and rates against the database.

QuoteCheck says this approach lets insurers review every quote for cost issues. It says this level of coverage was not economic with manual review alone.

The company positions its pricing as low relative to overall claim costs. It states that the software can handle unlimited quote volumes.

QuoteCheck also emphasises its operating model. It says it does not receive revenue from builders or suppliers.

"QuoteCheck fills that gap by providing a live, independent market driven benchmark that allows costs to be validated and adjusted before work starts - delivering savings, reducing disputes and improving transparency across the supply chain," said Browne.

The firm says its team includes former insurance assessors, builders and insurance repair specialists. It says this mix shaped the design of workflows and reports.

"QuoteCheck has been developed by insurance industry experienced assessors, builders and insurance repair specialists. It has been market proven with foundation clients for over three years now. That means QuoteCheck results are practical, peer-to-peer and supported by live data, not opinion. Because we don't take revenue from builders or suppliers, our independence gives insurers the assurance that every quote is reviewed objectively and transparently," said Browne.

QuoteCheck is now targeting insurers, brokers and repair networks across Australia. It plans further expansion as more regional cost data builds into its system.