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Property Playbook

Contractor bid looks too cheap

How to compare a low contractor bid against scope, exclusions, warranty, timing, materials, and responsibility.

Best for: Owners comparing roof, HVAC, remodel, repair, or improvement quotes before signing.

Build decision packet Use Start Here

Plain English

What do I do first?

This page puts the steps in order so you do not need to know the expert words before you start.

Start here: Turn each quote into the same checklist before comparing price.

Quote: The price and work list someone gave you.
Scope: What is included and what is not included.
Proof: Photos, receipts, readings, reports, and notes.
Deductible: The money you may pay before insurance helps.
Cleanup: Stop, dry, remove, clean, or make safe.
Rebuild: Put the home back together: walls, floors, cabinets, paint, and fixtures.

First move

Turn each quote into the same checklist before comparing price.

Mistake check

  • Do not treat a vague low bid as savings.
  • Do not compare bids with different materials, warranty, access, permit, cleanup, or hidden-condition assumptions.
  • Do not accept verbal scope additions without written terms.

What people forget

  • Permit
  • Disposal
  • Hidden damage allowance
  • Material brand and grade
  • Labor warranty
  • Payment schedule
  • Lien waiver

What makes it go bad

  • Change orders erase the low price.
  • The contractor excludes the line item that actually matters.
  • Warranty or insurance responsibility is unclear when the job fails.

Step-by-step

  1. Step 1

    Normalize the scope

    Write the same scope headings for every bid: labor, materials, permit, access, hidden damage, cleanup, warranty, exclusions, and payment terms.

  2. Step 2

    Find the missing line

    Ask the low bidder to state exactly what is not included and what triggers a change order.

  3. Step 3

    Put the comparison in a packet

    Use the decision packet to list what differs between quotes and which question must be answered before signing.

Documents to collect

  • Itemized quote
  • License/insurance proof where applicable
  • Warranty terms
  • Payment schedule
  • Change-order language

Packet prompt

Create a packet with bid differences, missing scope, excluded work, warranty terms, and the signing threshold.

Open the decision packet