Getting multiple quotes: how to compare service bids accurately

Writing a scope of work that produces comparable quotes

The most common reason quote comparisons mislead people is that each quote responds to a slightly different interpretation of the job. One plumber quotes the repair with a brand-name fixture; another quotes a builder-grade option. One contractor includes debris removal; another does not. Without a written scope of work that each provider responds to with their specific numbers, you are comparing apples and oranges.

A scope of work does not need to be elaborate for simple jobs: for a painting project, it might specify the rooms, the number of coats, the paint brand and quality, whether trim and ceiling are included, who does the prep, and whether the painter does any drywall repair. With that in hand, each quote can be compared against the same list. Any quote that addresses fewer line items is likely to add them back as change orders once the job is underway.

What a trustworthy written quote includes

A trustworthy written quote specifies: the exact scope of work (by reference to your scope of work document, or described in comparable detail), the materials by brand and grade where relevant, the labor cost separately from materials if the job is large enough to warrant it, the total price, the payment terms and schedule, the estimated start and completion dates, what is explicitly excluded, and how changes to the scope will be handled and priced.

A quote that lacks specificity on materials, excludes a timeline, or does not address what is excluded from the price is an incomplete quote. Signing a contract based on an incomplete quote is how most home service disputes start. Press for specificity before you sign; a reluctance to provide it is a signal.