How to Compare Contractor Quotes (Without Just Picking the Cheapest)
Three quotes, three different numbers — and usually three different jobs. How to line them up so you're comparing the same work.
When quotes come back far apart, it's almost always scope, not greed. Line them up item by item — materials and grade, prep and disposal, permits, cleanup, warranty, and how change orders get priced — before you compare totals. The cheapest bid usually excludes something the others include.
Fast facts
- How many quotes
- Two or three
- Compare first
- Scope, not price
- Most common gap
- Disposal and prep
- Always ask
- How change orders get priced
The cheapest bid is usually a different job
When three quotes come back far apart, it's rarely one contractor being greedy. It's almost always scope. Different materials. Different thickness. Different prep. Different warranty. Or something quietly left out that shows up later as a change order.
Match up the scopes before you compare price. Otherwise you're not picking a contractor. You're picking which surprise you get.
Line the quotes up on these
| Line item | What to confirm | Common gap |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | Exact product, grade, thickness | "Shingles" with no brand or line |
| Prep and teardown | Removal and disposal included? | Disposal billed separately |
| Labor vs materials | Installed price, or materials only? | Materials-only bid looks 40% cheaper |
| Permit | Who pulls it, fee included? | Homeowner left to pull it |
| Cleanup | Included, or a line at the end? | Dumpster and haul-away |
| Warranty | Length, coverage, whose warranty | Manufacturer only, no labor |
| Timeline | Start date, working days, weather policy | No start date at all |
| Change orders | How priced, written approval first? | Verbal approval, priced after |
Ask all three the same question
Once you have the quotes, go back to each contractor with the same specific question. For a roof, ask what they charge per sheet if they find rotted decking. For concrete, ask what thickness they're pouring and whether the mix is air-entrained.
You learn two things. The real number, and how they handle being asked. A contractor who answers a direct question straight is telling you how the whole job will go.
Then check what price doesn't show
- Verify the North Dakota licenseAnd confirm the class covers your job size. Free at the Secretary of State's FirstStop portal.
- Ask for proof of liability insuranceThe certificate itself, not a description of it.
- Read what actual customers saidEspecially about scheduling and follow-through after payment — the parts a quote can't show.
- Ask for two recent local referencesFor the same type of work. Then actually call one.
- Ask who's doing the workThe person quoting, their crew, or a subcontractor? All can be fine. You just want to know.
When the low bid is actually fine
We're not telling you to ignore price. Sometimes the low bid is low because the contractor is between jobs, lives two blocks away, or doesn't carry the overhead of a bigger outfit. Those are real reasons.
The test is whether the scope matches. If you've lined up all eight rows in the table above and the low bid still covers everything, that's a good bid — take it. The rule isn't "avoid cheap." It's "never compare totals until the scopes match."
Frequently asked
How many quotes should I get for home work?
Two or three works for most projects. More than that usually delays the job without telling you much, and fewer leaves you guessing at the local range.
Why are contractor quotes so different from each other?
Usually because they aren't quoting the same job. Materials, thickness, prep, disposal, permits, and warranties all move the number. Line the scopes up item by item before you compare totals. The cheapest bid often leaves out something the others include.
Should I always pick the lowest bid?
No — but you shouldn't automatically reject it either. Line up the scope item by item first. If the low bid genuinely covers everything the others do, it's a good bid. The rule is never to compare totals until the scopes match.
What should be in a written contractor estimate?
Exact materials and grade. Whether the price is installed or materials-only. Prep and disposal. Who pulls the permit and whether the fee is included. Cleanup. Warranty terms and length. A timeline. And how change orders get priced and approved.
What's the best question to ask all three contractors?
Pick the one that exposes the most likely surprise on your job. For roofing, what they charge per sheet for rotted decking. For concrete, the slab thickness and whether the mix is air-entrained. Asking all three the same specific question tells you the real number and how they handle scrutiny.