Quick answer: Compare quotes by their total cost: the quoted price plus the extras each quote leaves out. Then confirm that every contractor is pricing the same scope, and check the license, insurance and warranty before you choose the lowest total.
Step 1: add the extras to each quote
Quotes often leave out permits, materials, haul-away or cleanup. Add these to each quote to get a total you can compare. Use the extras the contractor lists, or your own estimate if they do not.
Worked example (made-up numbers)
- Alpha: $9,000, plus $500 in extras, is $9,500 total.
- Beta: $8,000, with no extras listed. Total $8,000.
- Gamma: $10,400, with no extras listed. Total $10,400.
Beta is the lowest total. Alpha is $1,500 more, which is 18.75% above Beta. Gamma is $2,400 more, which is 30% above Beta. The gap between the highest and lowest is $2,400, or 30% of the lowest quote.
If your budget is $9,000, only one of the three fits: Beta. Alpha's quoted price is under budget, but with its extras it is $500 over.
Step 2: check that the quotes describe the same work
Before you choose, ask each contractor to list the same scope: materials, labor, permits, cleanup and warranty length. In this example none of the three quotes states a warranty, so the comparison tool shows Not stated for each. That is a question to ask, not a yes or no.
Step 3: check the contractor, not just the price
- A license that matches the work, checked with your state licensing board.
- Liability and workers' compensation insurance, with a certificate you can verify.
- Two or three references for similar jobs.
- A written payment schedule that does not front-load most of the money.
Questions people ask
Should I just pick the lowest quote?
Only after you add the extras and confirm the scope is the same. The lowest total is not automatically the best choice.
What if the quotes are far apart?
Ask each contractor to explain the difference in writing. Large gaps often mean a different scope, different materials or different assumptions.
How should I treat a warranty?
Get it in writing. Check what it covers, for how long, and whether the contractor or the manufacturer stands behind it.
Where this does not apply
For an emergency, such as a burst pipe or a failed furnace in winter, a full comparison may not be possible. Stop the damage first, then compare quotes for the permanent fix. Some jobs need a specialist who is the only option in your area. A cheap quote from an unlicensed contractor is not a saving. It is a risk you carry.
To run your own comparison, use the compare quotes tool. The repair fund math behind the budget is in how much to set aside for repairs. Planners and workbooks are on our shop page.
Last reviewed: November 3, 2026.
This article is general educational information, not financial, legal, tax or insurance advice.
0 comments