Free homeowner guide
How to compare contractor bids side by side
You have the bids. Now you need to know which one makes sense. Put the written offers side by side, separate confirmed details from missing answers and compare the work before the totals.
Are they quoting the same job?
Describe the project, location, desired timing, access constraints and what matters most to you. Add useful photos. Explain the problems you have noticed without guessing their technical cause. If you already have a bid, use it to identify questions, not as a substitute for another contractor checking the site.
Send the same request to each contractor so their starting point is consistent:
I’m collecting written proposals and want to compare the work consistently. Please identify the work included, materials or equipment, exclusions, assumptions, warranty, timing, total price, and payment schedule. Show alternative scope separately and tell me what you need to verify onsite.
Keep the latest proposal from each company together. Note the date and ask whether the offer expires. When a contractor suggests a different approach, ask them to show how it changes the work, price and result.
What should I compare in each contractor bid?
Use the questions below beside each proposal. Write down the answer and where it appears. Mark missing information “not stated”: that is different from a contractor expressly excluding it.
| Compare | What to look for | Ask when it is unclear |
|---|---|---|
| Work included | Specific tasks, quantities and the finished result. | Is this the same scope as the other proposals? |
| Materials & equipment | Product names, model numbers, specifications and alternatives. | Which exact products are included in this price? |
| Preparation & cleanup | Removal, disposal, protection of the property and restoration. | What will be removed, protected and cleaned up? |
| Permits & related work | Who handles permits and any electrical, structural or other supporting work. | Who arranges and pays for each part? |
| Exclusions & allowances | What is outside the price; provisional amounts and uncertain conditions. | What could change the price, and how will we agree to it? |
| Price & payment | Total cash price, payment stages and any separately offered financing. | What is due at each stage, and what does financing change? |
| Warranty | Written coverage, provider, duration, conditions and exclusions. | Which coverage comes from the installer and which from a manufacturer? |
| Schedule | Expected start, duration, dependencies and availability. | What needs to happen before work starts? |
| Open questions | Unanswered items and the date of the latest complete proposal. | Can you put these clarifications into a revised written offer? |
You can copy these headings into a spreadsheet, with one column per contractor. Compare confirmed details separately from assumptions. An estimate that looks cheaper may leave out work another company included.
What should I compare for my type of project?
The same comparison method works across different trades, but the details change. See worked examples for roofing bids, HVAC replacement quotes and solar and battery offers. Ask the contractor to explain technical choices in terms you understand.
Roofing
- Does the bid include removing old roofing, disposal and cleanup?
- How are damaged decking, flashing and ventilation addressed?
- Which products and installation details are specified?
- What workmanship coverage is separate from the manufacturer’s warranty?
Heating & cooling
- Which equipment models are included, and how was the proposed size determined?
- Does the price cover ductwork, electrical work, controls and removal?
- What testing and setup will be completed after installation?
- What registration or maintenance conditions apply to the warranty?
Solar
- What equipment, system size and production assumptions are being proposed?
- Are roof or electrical upgrades needed, and are they included?
- How do the cash price and complete financing terms compare?
- Which incentives are assumed, who confirms eligibility, and what happens if an assumption changes?
Do not count an incentive as money you will receive until its current requirements and your eligibility are confirmed. Ask the relevant program administrator or qualified adviser when a financial or tax assumption affects your decision.
Why are my quotes thousands apart?
Start with the differences in scope, assumptions and terms. A clear description of the work is useful even when the contractor does not disclose every internal labor cost or markup. Our guide to different contractor prices explains how to ask for clarification.
Ready for the next conversation? Learn how to negotiate the complete offer, or explore comparison help from us if you want someone to work through the proposals with you.
Check the contractor behind the proposal.
Use the Oregon Construction Contractors Board’s consumer tools to find contractor verification and homeowner guidance. The Oregon Building Codes Division’s licensed-work guidance also points to checks for work requiring trade licenses.
Match the business named in the proposal to the records you check. Ask for relevant insurance information and references, and read the written agreement. A license check is one part of the decision; it is not a guarantee of workmanship or project results.
Ask for a complete final offer.
Have finalists include their clarifications in a revised written proposal. A conversation or separate message can help answer a question, but you should be able to see the complete offer you are choosing.
Please let me know your strongest complete offer for the agreed scope, including price, warranty, schedule, and payment terms. Show product or scope alternatives separately so I can understand the tradeoff.
You do not need to invent a competing price or share another company’s private proposal. Check whether a lower revised price removes work, changes the product or moves costs elsewhere.
Make a decision you can explain.
Write down what is included, which questions were answered and why the offer fits your priorities. The lowest total may be the right choice, but price alone does not explain differences in scope, materials, warranty or timing.
If a major difference is still unclear, ask before committing. You should be able to describe what you are buying and what remains uncertain.