Guide
Questions to ask a contractor
Ask questions that force two quotes to describe the same job. A Low / Fair / High label is useless if one company is cleaning a wall vent and the other is going on the roof.
Check a number you were quoted against a planning range.
Check my quoteScope and extras
Start here. These questions turn a number into a comparable job:
- What work is included, in writing?
- What is not included?
- Is haul-away, a replacement cap, a dehumidifier, or downspout clearing extra?
- Is this a trip minimum, or a price for my house as described?
If the answer is a shrug, read how to read a contractor quote before you compare dollars.
Access and assumptions
- Did you price a wall vent, a second-floor vent, or a roof vent?
- How many stories and about how many feet of gutter did you use?
- What crawl height and square footage did you assume?
- Are you working around gutter guards, tight side yards, or a steep pitch?
Wrong access is the usual reason a “cheap” quote is not cheap. Put the same access into the matching calculator and see whether the number still looks low.
What if they find a problem
- If there is a bird nest, packed lint, or a crushed hood — what is the range for that extra?
- If the gutters are packed or the downspouts are blocked, does the price change?
- If the crawl has standing water or a mold smell, is that a separate trade?
- Will you stop and get approval before adding work, or invoice later?
“We’ll know when we get there” with no range is how a $150 visit becomes a $900 invoice. A fair company can still give a band for the common extras.
License, insurance, payment
- Do you carry liability insurance for roof or ladder work?
- Are you licensed for this trade where my house is?
- How do you want to be paid, and when?
- Is there a written warranty on the work, even a short one?
Cash-only with no written scope is a warning, not a personality. See red flags in home service quotes.
Comparing two quotes
Line up the answers, not just the totals. Then put each number into the calculator with the scope that company described. If one quote is Low and skips the exterior cap, that is not a bargain. If one quote is High and includes a dehumidifier, a replacement hood, or packed-gutter labor, the label is a starting point.
Use the cost calculators for the range, and how QuotedFair estimates prices if you want the method.
FAQ
What is the one question that usually exposes a thin quote?
“What is not included?” A complete quote can name extras. A thin quote stalls, or says “we’ll know when we get there” with no range.
How many quotes should I get?
Two is the minimum for a comparable job. Three is better when the numbers are far apart. Line up the scope before you pick the cheapest.
Should I ask about insurance on a small job?
Yes for roof vents, two-story ladders, and crawl spaces. You do not need a speech. You need a company that can say they carry it.
What if they will not write the scope down?
Treat that as a reason to pause. A number without a scope cannot be compared to a QuotedFair range or to another company.