Is the cheaper renovation quote for the same work?
A lower quote may omit delivery, preparation or labour. A useful comparison reveals those differences before ranking contractors by price.
Match the scope and units
Describe an equivalent item, such as 20 m² of the same flooring. Use identical quantities and each supplier’s unit price. For a fixed line total, use quantity 1; do not multiply the total by area again.
Ask for a reviewable quote
The FTC recommends multiple written estimates covering work, materials, completion and price, rather than automatically choosing the lowest. Keep inclusions, exclusions, warranty and payment terms with the original offer.
References: FTC — How to avoid a home improvement scam
A blank is not zero
Missing prices mean unknown costs; they must not produce a seemingly complete total. Use 0 only for a genuinely free item. Add pre-tax fees before applying the relevant tax. Do not tax already tax-inclusive prices again; this arithmetic does not determine legal tax liability.
Example: fees change the apparent saving
Flooring of 20 m² at 50 in A and 55 in B, plus labour of 1000 and 700, totals 2000 and 1800 currency units. B is 200 cheaper before fees.
Add fees of 100 to A and 200 to B, then an illustrative 10% tax to both: totals become 2310 and 2200, only 110 apart. If B’s labour is unpriced, no final cost comparison is available yet.