How to compare contractor estimates
If one contractor will haul away your old fence panels and another will leave them in your yard, the totals cover different work. Put the estimates side by side and check what each price includes.
Updated
Free to post. No obligation to accept a bid. Responses depend on provider interest and availability in your area.
The short answer
Compare both estimates against the same written description of the job. Check the work, quantities, materials, cleanup and timing. If one estimate leaves a task out or prices it separately, ask the contractor to put the revised scope and price in writing before you compare totals.
Start with one description of the work
Give each contractor the same list of tasks, approximate measurements and areas to work on. Include anything you expect them to protect, remove or clean up. If a contractor suggests a different approach, ask them to list it separately so you can compare it with the original request.
For a public job post, keep your exact address and contact details out of the description and photos.
Compare the estimates line by line
Copy or print this sheet. Put the same requested work in both columns, then record what each proposal actually says. Mark a missing price or inclusion as “not stated” until the contractor confirms it.
Record whether the proposal gives a fixed price for the stated scope or an estimate that can change, and what its terms say about changes. Do not treat an estimated total as a price cap unless the written agreement says it is one.
Copy or print this table and fill it from the written quotes. Mark missing details as “not stated”; an empty space does not mean included or free.
| What to compare | Quote A | Quote B |
|---|---|---|
| Tasks, areas and quantities | ________ | ________ |
| Materials, product choices and allowances | ________ | ________ |
| Preparation and protection | ________ | ________ |
| Removal, haul-away and disposal | ________ | ________ |
| Fixed price or estimate; exclusions | ________ | ________ |
| Start, completion and schedule assumptions | ________ | ________ |
| Payments and the work due at each stage | ________ | ________ |
| Approval and pricing for changed work | ________ | ________ |
| Questions still unanswered | ________ | ________ |
| Revised total for the same written scope | ________ | ________ |
Ask about the gaps before choosing
If one proposal is much lower, ask whether it omits a task, uses a different material or assumes you will handle part of the work. If a condition cannot be assessed from your description, ask what the provider needs to inspect and how any revised price would be agreed.
Two estimates for the same fence repair
Suppose both proposals cover two replacement fence panels with the same materials, hardware and finish. A leaves the old panels on site; B removes them. The homeowner wants haul-away and asks A for a revised written total.
What to ask
“Could you update the estimate to include removing and hauling away the two old panels, and show the revised total?”
Illustrative arithmetic only. These figures are made up to show the comparison; they are not actual bids, local rates or an estimate for your project. Assume all other scope and charges match. The $30 difference is meaningful only after the exclusions are resolved; it does not select the contractor for you.
| Same two-panel repair | Estimate A | Estimate B |
|---|---|---|
| Panels, hardware and finish | $800 | $950 |
| Old panels removed and hauled away | Initially excluded; revised addition $120 | Included |
| Revised total for the same work | $920 | $950 |
| Remaining decision | Check schedule, payment terms and relevant credentials | Check schedule, payment terms and relevant credentials |
Before you choose
- The same requested work appears in each proposal.
- Materials, labor and exclusions are clear.
- The pricing method and change process are clear.
- Timing and payment terms work for you.
- You have independently checked the provider information relevant to your project.
Sources
- Home Building and Remodeling: Choosing a Contractor · Minnesota Attorney General. Minnesota consumer guidance on written, comparable bids and contractor selection.
- How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam · Federal Trade Commission. July 2022 federal consumer guidance on written estimates and checking a contractor.
- How BidGreat works for homeowners · BidGreat. Explains what job information is public and which details to keep out of descriptions and photos.
Your hiring decision
BidGreat does not vet providers or guarantee their work. Independently check relevant credentials and references.
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