Key sections to review
Read the full document — not just the bottom-line price.
- Scope of work by room
- Allowance vs fixed-price items
- Exclusions (e.g., “patch and paint”)
- Payment and change-order clauses
Allowances are not prices
An $8/sq ft tile allowance is a placeholder. If you pick $18 tile, you owe the difference plus waste and labor that may also jump. Quotes that hide allowances in a lump sum are how “the bid was $40k” becomes $52k at selections.
- Circle every line that says allowance, TBD, or “owner supplied”
- Ask what happens if your fixture is delayed — storage fees and idle labor
- A quote without dumpster, permit, or waterproofing named is incomplete, not cheap
Exclusions hide at the bottom
The last page often excludes unforeseen rot, asbestos, knob-and-tube, and engineering. That is normal if it is printed. It is a problem if the salesperson said “everything is included” on the phone. Initial the exclusions page.
- Unforeseen structural work should have a change-order process, not a blank check
- Owner-supplied fixtures shift damage risk to you on delivery day
- Ask who pays if an inspection fails because a sub skipped a strap