Launch draft: this original article is prepared for Aaron’s review before public release.
Two prices are easy to compare. Two scopes take a little more attention. Start by finding out whether the proposals describe the same work.
Compare the ingredients
Make a short table with one column for each contractor. Add a row for each part of your project: preparation, materials, installation, finishing, cleanup, and any other work you expect. Record what each proposal actually says. Mark anything missing as a question, rather than guessing.
Put allowances side by side
Ask what each allowance is intended to cover. Does it include the product only, or installation too? Which quantities and selections does it assume? Ask how the final price will be adjusted if your selections differ.
Close the gaps before choosing
Send each contractor the questions relevant to their proposal. Request written clarifications. Once the scopes are clearer, you can weigh price alongside the work being offered, communication, and the other factors that matter to you.
The price tells you what you’ll pay. The scope tells you what you’ll get.
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