Apples-to-apples comparison
Create a spreadsheet with each bid’s line items side by side.
- Same fixture and appliance specs
- Matching allowance levels
- Identical demo and disposal scope
Red flags in low bids
Missing items often appear as change orders later.
- No permit line item
- Vague “tile allowance” without amount
- Cash-only payment demands
Build a matrix, not a vibe
Rows should be demo, dump, waterproofing or underlayment, named fixtures, labor hours or lump, permits, and punch. If contractor A has a waterproofing line and B does not, you are not comparing price. You are comparing a complete bath to a tile job.
- Give every bidder the same PDF drawing the same week
- Ask each to initial “included / excluded” on your matrix
- A visit that lasts eight minutes rarely produces a trustworthy number
Price per square foot is a marketing number
Two kitchens of 180 sq ft are not the same if one moves the sink. Use square-foot ranges only to spot a bid that is wildly off, then return to line items. The cheapest per-foot bid often omitted the island electrical.
- Highlight any bid that is 30% below the pack and ask what is missing
- Travel and small-job minimums matter on powder rooms
- Payment schedule differences are part of the comparison, not a footnote