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True Trade Path

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Contractor Quote Analyzer

Break down a contractor's quote and see whether the price and the terms are reasonable.

Price check

Compare the number on the quote against what this job typically costs where you live.

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Scope, schedule and changes
Credentials and warranty
Payment and protection

Combined verdict

Usable quote with gaps

The price is inside the local range, but the quote scores 61 out of 100. Close the 7 gaps below before you sign rather than after.
Price against the local rangeExpected $1,786–$8,930 in Atlanta
Within range
Terms completeness7 of 15 items missing
61 / 100
Difference from typicalTypical for this job in Atlanta is $3,473
+20.9%
Expected pricing for this job in Atlanta
Point in the rangeAmountYour quote against it
Low end$1,786135.2% above
Typical$3,47320.9% above
High end$8,93053.0% below
Quoted$4,200Within range
Ask this contractor these 7 questions
  1. 1

    What is specifically excluded — disposal, drywall repair, landscape restoration, code upgrades triggered by the work?

    Missing from the quote: Explicit list of exclusions

  2. 2

    How are change orders priced, and will you confirm that no additional work proceeds without my written approval?

    Missing from the quote: Written change-order procedure

  3. 3

    What is the parts warranty, who registers the equipment, and is labor covered during the first year of it?

    Missing from the quote: Parts or manufacturer warranty term stated

  4. 4

    Do you carry workers' compensation on everyone who will be on my property, including any subcontractors?

    Missing from the quote: Proof of workers' compensation

  5. 5

    Can we tie each payment to a completed, inspectable milestone rather than to a date on the calendar?

    Missing from the quote: Progress payments tied to milestones

  6. 6

    Can final payment be due after the inspection passes and the punch list is signed off, rather than at last day on site?

    Missing from the quote: Final payment due after inspection

  7. 7

    Will you provide conditional lien waivers from your subcontractors and suppliers with each progress payment?

    Missing from the quote: Lien waiver provision

The price sits inside the expected range

Price is now the least interesting thing about this quote. Judge it on the terms, the scope and the license verification instead.

This tool checks the paperwork, not the contractor

Nothing here tells you whether this company does good work. Look the license number up on your state board’s own website, confirm it is active and in the same legal name that appears on the contract, and have the insurance certificate sent to you by the agent rather than by the contractor.

What this assumes

  • Benchmarks reflect typical U.S. residential pricing for standard access and materials.
  • Terms review applies common consumer-protection practice, not the law of any specific state.
  • A quote outside the typical range is a prompt to ask questions, not evidence of wrongdoing.

Important

This tool does not evaluate the contractor. Always verify license status with your state board and confirm active liability and workers' compensation coverage independently.

Understanding the result

The cheapest bid is a signal, not a bargain

A bid far below the others usually means something is missing — scope, permits, insurance, or a licensed crew. Ask what the low bidder excluded that the others included. Sometimes the answer is efficiency; more often it is a change order waiting to happen.

Payment terms matter as much as price

A reasonable residential deposit is 10 to 30%, with progress payments tied to milestones and a final payment after inspection. Several states cap deposits by statute. A demand for full payment up front is the single clearest warning sign in residential contracting.

What a complete quote contains

Scope in specific terms, materials by brand and model, who pulls the permit, a schedule, an explicit exclusions list, change order procedure, warranty terms on labor and parts, license number, and proof of insurance. Anything missing is a question to ask before you sign.

Exclusions are where disputes start

A quote that says 'install water heater' without specifying venting, pan, expansion tank, or code upgrades will generate change orders. A complete quote lists what is excluded as explicitly as what is included. 'Excludes: drywall repair, asbestos abatement, permit fees' prevents surprises.

How the math works

Each line item is weighted against national residential benchmarks for the trade and job type you select. The tool sums flagged lines (missing scope, vague allowances, heavy labor share, deposit above typical caps) into a score and question list — it does not re-price the job; it checks whether the structure of the quote matches how fair bids are usually written.

Where to find each input

  • Total contract price — the bottom line on the signed proposal or estimate PDF
  • Trade and job type — match the license category (roofing, HVAC, plumbing, etc.) to the work described
  • Line items — copy from the contractor’s itemized section; lump sums still count as one line
  • Payment schedule — deposit % and milestone language from the terms section
  • Permit and warranty blocks — often on page two; paste or note if absent

Worked examples

Water heater swap, three-line lump sum

Electric 50-gallon replacement quoted at $2,850 as one line: “Install water heater.” No permit, pan, expansion tank, or haul-away listed. Benchmark for like-for-like in an accessible garage is roughly $1,200–$2,400 installed.

Flags missing scope (permit, pan, expansion tank, disposal). Suggested questions: model number, who pulls permit, code upgrades included. Price sits in range but completeness score is low — high change-order risk.

Roof replacement with clear squares

24 squares at $520/square = $12,480, tear-off, synthetic underlayment, ridge vent, 10-year workmanship warranty, 15% deposit, balance at completion. Permit $350 line-itemed.

Price per square within typical $400–$650 band for architectural shingles. Deposit within 10–30% norm. Few structural flags — compare to two other quotes on the same square count and warranty length.

HVAC changeout below market with vague equipment

“3-ton AC and furnace — $4,200 total.” No SEER2/AFUE, line set, thermostat, permit, or labor warranty. Market for matched equipment is often $5,000–$8,000+.

Low price plus missing equipment spec triggers scope warnings. Ask for brand/model, line set replacement, startup checklist, and 1–2 year labor warranty before treating the bid as comparable.

What this does not include

  • License verification with your state board — you must confirm status and class yourself
  • Insurance certificate review or lien waiver tracking
  • Legal interpretation of your state’s deposit cap or mechanic’s lien law
  • Site visits, material takeoffs, or engineering
  • Negotiation scripts or contractor reputation scoring

Regional adjustment

Benchmarks are national medians. Labor-heavy trades run 20–35% above median in San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, and New York City; many Sun Belt metros sit closer to median on equipment-heavy bids. Re-run mental adjustment using your metro cost index on localized cost pages when available — a fair quote in Phoenix can look high on paper to a Midwest benchmark.

Accuracy and references

Ranges align with RSMeans residential repair & remodeling medians and published trade association consumer guides (2024–2026 vintages), cross-checked against True Trade Path cost guides. Payment norms follow common consumer-protection practice; several states cap residential deposits by statute — use the payment schedule checker for your state.

Counterpart bridge

Pricing this on the contractor side?

This page interprets quotes and budgets from the buyer’s chair. The matching pro tool uses the same scope logic to build a defensible price.

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For trade owners

Pricing this job as a contractor?

Homeowners see national ranges on this page. If you are building the estimate, use the same scope assumptions — then price to burdened labor, overhead recovery and a real margin.

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Find a licensed pro

When you are ready to hire for contractor quote analyzer, start with licence verification — not with whoever answered first.

No paid placement

Rankings are never sold. Order reflects verification depth and relevance, not payment.
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Verify any licence yourself before signing: state licensing hub.

Common questions

How many quotes should I get?
Three is the standard guidance for any job above a few hundred dollars. Fewer leaves you without a benchmark; more delays the work and rarely changes the answer.
Is a 50% deposit normal?
For most residential service work, no. Ten to thirty percent is typical, and several states cap deposits. Large custom orders — cabinetry, windows, specialty equipment — are a legitimate exception.
How do I know if a contractor quote is too high?
Get three quotes. If one is more than 30% above the others, ask what it includes that the others do not — premium materials, warranty, permit, or scope differences may explain it. If the high bidder cannot explain the gap, it is overpriced. The lowest bid is equally suspect if 30% below.
What should a roofing quote include?
Scope: tear-off or overlay, shingle brand and warranty, underlayment type, flashing replacement, drip edge, ridge vent, and disposal. Price per square (100 sq ft), total squares, and timeline. A complete quote for a 2,000 sq ft roof: 20 to 25 squares at $400 to $600/square = $8,000 to $15,000.
What should an HVAC replacement quote include?
Equipment brand, model, SEER/AFUE rating, tonnage, line set replacement, thermostat, permit, disposal of old unit, warranty (parts and labor), and start-up commissioning. A 3-ton SEER 16 replacement should quote $5,000 to $8,000 installed. Quotes under $4,000 likely exclude scope.
Should a quote include permit costs?
Yes. A complete quote includes permit fees ($50 to $500), inspection scheduling, and any required engineering. A quote that says 'permit by owner' shifts $200 to $500 in cost and liability to you. The contractor should pull the permit in their name and license.
What is a reasonable contractor markup?
Overhead and profit of 10 to 20% on top of direct cost is standard for residential work. On a $5,000 direct cost job, the contractor's price of $5,500 to $6,000 is reasonable. Markup above 30% on labor and materials combined is high unless the scope is complex or specialized.
How do I compare contractor bids?
Line up scope side by side: same materials, same inclusions, same warranty. A $8,000 bid that includes tear-off, disposal, and a 10-year warranty is cheaper than a $6,500 bid that overlays existing shingles with no warranty. Normalize scope before comparing price.
What warranty should a contractor offer?
Labor warranty of 1 to 2 years is standard for residential work. Manufacturer warranties on materials (roofing, HVAC equipment) are separate and typically 10 to 25 years. Get warranty terms in writing in the contract. A contractor who will not warranty their labor for at least one year is a risk.
Is a written estimate binding?
An estimate is typically non-binding — it is an approximation. A quote or proposal with a signature line becomes a contract when signed. Verbal quotes are unenforceable. Always get a written quote with scope, price, timeline, and payment terms before work begins.
What questions should I ask a contractor before hiring?
Ask: Are you licensed and insured? Will you pull the permit? What is included and excluded? What is the payment schedule? What warranty do you offer? Can I have three recent references? Who will be on site daily? A contractor who hesitates on any of these is a risk.
Does a high score mean the contractor is dishonest?
No. It means the quote is incomplete or uses terms worth questioning. Many reputable shops write terse proposals; the score gives you a checklist, not a verdict.
Can I paste a photo of a quote?
Type or paste text for accurate line weighting. If you only have a photo, transcribe totals and major lines — the tool cannot OCR images in the browser.
What deposit percentage is normal?
Ten to thirty percent at signing for most residential jobs, with progress tied to milestones. Custom-order goods (windows, cabinets) may justify higher deposits tied to factory deposits.
Should every quote include permit fees?
Yes for permitted work. A line item or explicit ‘permit included’ language should appear. ‘Owner to pull permit’ shifts cost and liability to you.
How do allowances work?
Allowances should state the dollar cap and what happens if selections exceed it. Open-ended ‘tile allowance’ without quantity or price per square foot is a common dispute source.
Is one quote enough to analyze?
You can analyze one, but three comparable scopes are the standard for price benchmarking. Use quote comparison when you have multiple bids.
What if all lines are one lump sum?
The tool still checks total against benchmarks and terms. Ask the contractor to break out equipment, labor, permit, and disposal before signing.
Do commercial quotes use the same benchmarks?
No. This tool targets residential service and remodeling. Commercial bids need different overhead and bonding assumptions.
How do change orders affect the analysis?
Analyze the base contract first. Change orders should be written with scope, price, and schedule impact — the same completeness rules apply.
What warranty language should I expect?
One to two years of labor on workmanship plus manufacturer material warranties stated by brand. ‘Warranty per manufacturer only’ with no labor coverage is a gap to question.

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