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Why should I get three bids before hiring a contractor?
Use the free tool — Contractor Quote Check
Why three bids, not one
The single best price protection a homeowner has is written bids on identical scope, from at least three contractors. This isn't about distrust — it's about comparison. A price only means something next to other prices for the same work.
With one bid, you have no way to know if it's fair. There is no shortcut here: the advice is always to get two more.
What "identical scope" means
- Same materials, same brands, same quantities where possible
- Same job description — not one contractor's version of the roof and another's
- Same specifics: permits included or not, cleanup included or not, timeline
If the bids describe different jobs, you're not comparing prices — you're comparing guesses.
What to check on each bid
- Clear and fair (ok): scoped, priced, specified — brand, quantity, cap all named
- Vague — pin it down (warn): legitimate items missing spec, quantity, brand, or cap — like "allowances" or "TBD"
- Red flag (alert): problems with the deal itself — oversized deposits, permits left to the owner on work that clearly needs them, no written scope, pressure to sign fast
Two habits that matter on every bid
Verify the license number on your state's contractor board site — every state licenses contractors, and the number on the quote should check out. Ask for the insurance certificate directly from the insurer, not just a copy from the contractor.
On roofs, HVAC, or structural work, permits are almost always required. If the contract says "permits by owner," ask why — the person who pulls the permit is the one who answers for the inspection.
Get any change to the job in writing and signed before the work happens. That one sentence saves remodels.
What to do next
Paste any one of your quotes into the free tool. It reads your own document and shows you, line by line, what's clear, what's vague, and what's a red flag — plus the exact questions to send back before you sign anything. Nothing is saved.
This is not legal or construction advice. It can be wrong. Norms vary by state and trade — confirm with your state licensing board and your own contractor before signing.
Contractor Quote Check reads estimates and flags common issues; it can be wrong and it is not legal or construction advice. Norms vary by state and trade. Nothing you paste is stored.