Compare the same project
An estimate for replacing a surface is different from one that includes demolition, preparation, and surrounding repairs. Make a shared list of requested work so each estimate starts from the same expectations.
Identify allowances and exclusions
Ask which materials are selected, which are covered by an allowance, and which you are expected to supply. Check whether removal, disposal, trim, and final finishing are included. An unexplained difference can become a surprise later.
Ask how changes are handled
Existing homes can reveal conditions that were not visible at the start. Ask how additional work is documented, priced, and approved before it proceeds. A clear process is more useful than an unsupported promise that nothing will change.
Talk about scheduling and communication
Ask who your contact will be, what affects the proposed schedule, and how material delays or site issues will be communicated. Discuss household access, protection of surrounding spaces, and cleanup expectations.
Review the contractor and written terms
Ask for applicable credential and insurance information, examples of similar work, and written warranty terms. Read the scope and payment schedule carefully. If something matters to your decision, have it clarified in writing before you commit.
Build a side-by-side scope list
Create a row for each major task: protection, demolition, preparation, structural or system work, selected materials, installation, trim, disposal, and cleanup. Mark included, excluded, or unclear for each proposal. An empty row is a question for the contractor, not proof that the work is included. Ask for revised written estimates when the scopes differ.
Understand what a low number leaves open
A proposal may contain owner-supplied materials, allowances, or known exclusions that move the final amount beyond the stated base. Use the comparison worksheet below to add only amounts you enter from written proposals. The resulting adjusted total is not a final contract price; it is a way to spot gaps and ask better questions.
Choose a decision process, not just a winner
Compare scope and communication alongside price. Confirm who makes selections, when decisions are due, how change orders work, who is responsible for permits when applicable, and when payment milestones occur. Save the written clarifications with the proposal so the version you accept matches what you discussed.
Compare two written proposals
Enter each quoted base and the costs of known exclusions you want to compare.
How to use this: Only known amounts you enter are included. Different scopes, allowances, taxes, and unknown conditions still need written clarification. Figures stay in your browser and are not submitted or saved. This tool is for planning, not a quote.
Ready to talk through your project?
Share the space, your location, and the changes you have in mind.
Request a free estimate