The low quote usually left something out. The high quote usually put something in. Until you know what, you don't have three prices — you have three different jobs.
Most aren’t. This sheet puts them side by side so the differences show — and so the question becomes “why is yours different?” instead of “which is cheapest?”
| Item | Quote A | Quote B | Quote C |
|---|---|---|---|
| The company | |||
| Company name | |||
| License number — checked at sos.ga.gov? | |||
| Certificate of insurance received from their agent? | |||
| Who does the work — employees or subs? | |||
| The job | |||
| Scope — what's included | |||
| What's specifically excluded | |||
| Size / quantity (tons, squares, linear feet, gallons) | |||
| Materials — brand, model, grade | |||
| Efficiency or spec (SEER2, shingle class, paint line) | |||
| Permit — pulled by whom | |||
| Haul-away and cleanup included? | |||
| The terms | |||
| Start date / finish date | |||
| Labor warranty (years, in writing) | |||
| Materials warranty (years, who honors it) | |||
| Payment schedule (deposit / midpoint / final) | |||
| How changes are priced and approved | |||
| The price | |||
| Total | |||
| Price per unit (per square, per ton, per window) | |||
| Anything "to be determined" or "if needed" | |||
Reading the sheet
- Find the row where they disagree. On a roof it’s usually decking replacement (“up to 3 sheets included” vs. “as needed, $90/sheet”). On HVAC it’s the efficiency rating and whether ductwork was looked at. On paint it’s how many coats and whether prep is priced. That row is the real conversation.
- Ask the low bid what’s not in it. Ask the high bid what’s in it that the others don’t have. Both answers are usually honest; they just weren’t volunteered.
- A quote with blanks in the materials rows isn’t a quote yet. Send it back and ask for the brand and model. A contractor who won’t write it down doesn’t want to be held to it.
- “If needed” is where the budget goes. Ask for a unit price on every one of those lines before you sign, so a surprise is a known number.
- Price per unit catches the outlier. Three roofers quoting $425, $450 and $780 a square are telling you something — and it’s rarely that the third is twice as good.
- All else equal, take the middle one. Then, all else is rarely equal — which is the point of the sheet.
Pairs with "How we vet a contractor" and "Repair or replace?" — the three together are how we review every quote for the homes we look after.
Next guideHow we vet a contractor