The Bidding Process
No matter how large or small your project, always get at least three quotes or "bids" to ensure that you are paying a fair price.
Invite several contractors to go over your plans and specifications, inspect the work site and submit a quote. Never, ever sign or pay for anything on the first visit.
Estimates vs. Quotes
The difference between an estimate and a quote can mean thousands of dollars to you. Estimates are educated guesses. Giving a low estimate is one ploy that a contractor can use to come in as the low bidder and get the job. Generally speaking, estimates only include a vague description of the work to be done, leaving much room for interpretation. Also, an estimate is not binding, so you could end up paying much more.
A quote, on the other hand, should include every single detail of the work to be done from work site preparation to hauling away the garbage at the end of the project and who keeps any leftover material.
Let's take a simple project, painting a living room, as an example. Who is responsible for moving the furniture before starting to paint, and replacing it at the end of the job? An estimate probably won't mention this, but the quote will. An estimate won't specify the brand of paint to be used, nor will it take into account that you may be using several colours, which can add up both in terms of labour and paint. A quote will be very specific, outlining every step of the process. If anything is missing, you should be able to spot it easily.
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