Build one table with the same rows for every bid: scope items, materials (brand, model, quantity), permit, disposal, schedule, payment terms, labor warranty and exclusions. Ask each contractor to fill the gaps in writing. Compare totals only once the scope matches, and weigh terms and warranty as heavily as price.
Make one comparison table
| Row | What to write down |
|---|---|
| Scope | Every task in plain words: remove, install, repair, haul away |
| Materials | Brand, model, size or grade, and quantity |
| Permit and inspection | Included or not; who applies |
| Schedule | Start date, finish date, what happens if it slips |
| Payment terms | Deposit, progress payments tied to milestones, final payment on completion |
| Warranty | Manufacturer’s term, and the contractor’s labor warranty in writing |
| Exclusions | What is not included and how extras are priced |
| License and insurance | License number (checked), proof of insurance |
The FTC suggests asking for an explanation when estimates differ a lot, and not automatically picking the lowest [1].
Normalize the scope
If bid A includes a permit and haul-away and bid B does not, either ask B to price them or add a placeholder to B’s total. If one roofer tears off and the other overlays, you are comparing two different roofs. Write the missing items into the table rather than guessing.
Use the same quantities. Ask each contractor how they measured (squares of roofing, tons of cooling, gallons of tank capacity) so the numbers are comparable.
Compare the terms
Terms are where bids that look alike part ways. The FTC warns about contractors who ask you to pay for everything up front, accept only cash, or pressure an immediate decision [1]. Some states cap deposits; California limits a home improvement down payment to the lesser of $1,000 or 10% of the contract price [2].
- Deposit is modest and, where your state caps it, within the cap.
- Payments follow completed work, not the calendar.
- The final payment waits until the work is done and inspected.
- You get lien releases from the contractor and major suppliers before the final payment (ask how they handle it).
- Any in-home sale includes the cancellation notice the Cooling-Off Rule requires [3].
Then decide
With scope and terms lined up, price differences usually narrow and become explainable: a better unit, a longer warranty, a crew that pulls permits. If one bid is still far above the others, ask why in writing. If one is far below, ask what is missing.
Run each bid through Quote Check to see the price in context and the terms flagged; save them to your home to keep notes on the answers you got.
Check each bidSources
- FTC, “How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam” (July 2022). Retrieved 2026-10-05.
- California Business and Professions Code §7159.5. Retrieved 2026-10-05.
- FTC, “Buyer’s Remorse: The FTC’s Cooling-Off Rule May Help” (September 2025). Retrieved 2026-10-05.
Information, not legal, insurance or engineering advice. Spot something wrong? Send a correction; accepted corrections are logged publicly with a date.