How to read a contractor's estimate

Three estimates for the same project can be thousands of dollars apart and all be honest. The difference is almost always in what each one includes. Read the scope before the number.

What should be on it

• The contractor's legal name, address, license number and insurance.
• A scope of work: what is being done, where, with what materials, brand and grade named.
• What is excluded, in plain words. Permits, disposal, painting, repairs found along the way.
• How surprises are priced. Rotten decking, bad wiring, a cracked drain: a per-unit price or a change-order promise.
• The number of coats, the thickness, the model number. Specifics are what you are buying.
• Payment terms: the deposit, the progress payments and what triggers the final payment.
• The workmanship warranty, in years, and the manufacturer warranty on the materials.
• How long the price is good for.

Questions worth asking

• Who is doing the work, your crew or a subcontractor? Who is on site each day?
• Will you pull the permit, and is the inspection included?
• What happens if you find something behind the wall?
• Can I see a certificate of insurance sent from your agent?
• When would you start, and how long will it take?

Red flags

A price given on the spot without measuring. A demand for a large payment up front. Pressure to sign today for a discount. No license number, no address, no written warranty. A Pro who will not put the scope in writing is asking you to trust a memory.

HomeMaxx Pros give written estimates you approve online, and Verified Pros have had their license, insurance and warranty checked by HomeMaxx.