How to Read a Home Service Estimate

Three estimates for the same project can vary by forty percent and all be honest. The difference is usually scope, not greed. Reading them side by side is a skill worth ten minutes of your time.

First, normalize the scope. Write the major line items down the left side of a page and fill in each bid's number. Gaps appear immediately: one roofer includes new underlayment and drip edge, another lists only tile replacement.

Second, find the allowances. An allowance is a placeholder for a product you have not selected yet — tile, fixtures, cabinetry. A low bid with a low allowance is not a low bid; it is an unfinished one.

Third, read the exclusions. Permit fees, dumpster and haul-away, drywall repair after electrical work, and post-construction cleaning are the four most common exclusions that surprise homeowners.

Fourth, look at the payment schedule and the timeline together. A schedule that ties money to completed milestones protects both sides and tells you the contractor has run projects before.

When you request quotes through Home Pros Guild, every professional receives the same project brief, which makes this comparison dramatically easier.