RenoBinderA remodel estimate can be one number on a single page or a long list of lines that still leaves out the work you care about. Read one bid on its own before you try to compare several quotes. The goal is to see what the price actually buys.
Start with who is offering the price
Match the business name on the estimate to the name you will look up for a license. In California, the Contractors State License Board says a contract should identify the contractor, the business address, and the license number, and that a number printed on a bid does not by itself mean the license is valid (CSLB, finding a contractor). Other states handle this differently. The lookup steps are in how to check a license and insurance.
Keep this estimate in RenoBinder
Save the scope and the bid you are reading in one project. One room is free.
Start your free projectWhat the lines should be able to answer
Keep the bid next to the scope and the budget. One room is free.
Start a free planConsumer agencies describe the same core, even when the paperwork looks different. The Texas Attorney General says a written contract should state what the contractor will do, when the work will start, when it will be finished, and the cost of special orders and materials (Texas AG). California's board says a thorough contract tells how the work will be done, when, what materials will be used, and how much it will cost, including size, color, model numbers, and who does what (CSLB).
Walk the estimate with these questions. If a line cannot answer one of them, ask in writing before you treat the total as real.
| Part | What you are looking for |
|---|---|
| Scope | A description of the work, room by room, not only a project title |
| Materials | Brand, model, size, or color, or a named allowance if you have not chosen yet |
| Allowances | A dollar amount tied to a quantity or a quality you can shop. See allowances |
| Labor | Whether installation is included, and which trades |
| Permits and fees | Who applies, and whether the fee is in the price |
| Exclusions | A list of what is not included. An unspoken exclusion is how totals drift |
| Price | A total, and whether tax, haul-away, and protection of the rest of the house are inside it |
| Schedule | A start and a completion date, even if they are estimates |
| Payments | What work is done before each payment, not only a percent and a date |
On allowances, use the allowance guide and the allowance calculator before you accept a placeholder as "about right."
A lump sum is not the same as a complete scope
One total for "bathroom remodel" can be a fair price for a clearly described job. It can also be a price for a job the contractor is still picturing. Ask them to attach the scope, or to list exclusions under the total. Washington State's labor department tells homeowners to get at least three written bids and compare them carefully, and to get a written contract they actually understand (Washington L&I). You cannot compare what you cannot read.
Watch the blanks and the promises that stayed verbal
- Blank lines. The Texas AG says not to sign a contract with blanks in it, because those blanks get filled in later (Texas AG).
- Spoken promises. California's board says if you are promised something verbally, get it into the writing before you sign (CSLB).
- Cleanup and debris. The same California page says to make sure the contract includes cleanup and removal of debris. If it is missing, ask.
- How changes will be priced. A service charge for changing your mind should be described, not invented at the end. See change orders.
- Texas homesteads. The Texas AG says a contract for work on your homestead must include a specific warning, and that a contractor can place a lien. Read that section on the AG's page, and see lien waivers.
Then compare it with the other bids
Once this estimate has a scope, a price, exclusions, and a payment schedule, put it next to the others on the same list. That is what comparing contractor quotes is for. If the bids describe different work, write one scope of work and ask each contractor to price that.
Where RenoBinder fits
A free project keeps the scope, the bid you pick, and the budget lines together so the total on the estimate does not drift out of sight. One room is free. Compare plans.
Keep this estimate in RenoBinder
Save the scope and the bid you are reading in one project. One room is free.
Start your free projectLaunch offer: 30% off with code LAUNCH30