How to Compare Home Repair Estimates Without Looking Only at Price

Three estimates with three different totals may not describe the same project. Before choosing, make them easier to compare.

Start with diagnosis

Do the contractors agree on what's wrong? If not, resolve that difference first.

Compare scope

What exactly will each company do? Look for removal, repair, replacement, preparation, cleanup, disposal, and finish work.

Compare materials

Make sure the proposed materials or equipment are reasonably equivalent.

Compare exclusions

What isn't included can matter as much as what is.

Look at allowances

An allowance isn't always the final price of an item. Understand how it works.

Ask about changes

What happens if additional damage is discovered? Understand the change-order process.

Compare warranty terms

Ask what applies to materials, equipment, labor, and installation.

Compare payment structure

Understand when payments are due and what milestones they correspond to.

Don't manufacture a winner from the spreadsheet

The cheapest proposal isn't automatically wrong, and the most expensive isn't automatically better. The goal is to understand what each company is proposing.