Two estimates for the same renovation can cover different work. Before choosing the lower total, check that both estimates cover the same layout, materials, installation, and repairs. An omitted item may become an additional cost later.
Start With One Scope of Work
Give each contractor the same drawings and description of the renovation. Include the rooms involved, changes to walls and building systems, expected finishes, and anything you plan to buy yourself. Check that each estimate uses the same drawing version.
You can also request an estimate while the design is still being developed. Ask which assumptions the contractor has used and what needs to be decided before the price can be confirmed.
Compare Inclusions, Allowances, and Exclusions
Compare the estimates item by item. These questions can help you identify differences worth discussing with each contractor.
| Item | What to compare | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition and disposal | Areas to be removed and debris handling | Do both prices cover the same demolition and disposal work? |
| Cabinets and counters | Layout, quantities, materials, and installation | Are both estimates based on the same cabinet plan and counter material? |
| Fixtures and finishes | Selected products or allowances | What products and quantities does each allowance cover? |
| Installation | Labor, preparation, and connections | Does the price include installation as well as the purchase? |
| Existing systems | Plumbing, electrical, and structural work | What has been inspected, and what is still assumed? |
| Owner purchases | Items you will buy separately | Who checks dimensions, connections, and delivery dates? |
| Design and approvals | Drawings, filings, fees, and inspections | Which costs are included, and which will you pay separately? |
| Protection and access | Occupied rooms, building rules, and deliveries | Has the contractor accounted for how the work will be carried out? |
An allowance is a budget amount for an item or work that has not been fully selected or defined. Check its quantity, quality, and whether installation is included. Two allowances with the same dollar amount may cover different things.
An exclusion is something the contractor’s price does not cover. Keep that cost in your overall budget and agree who will handle it. For example, an appliance you buy yourself still needs the right dimensions, connections, and delivery date.
Separate Known Work From Unresolved Conditions
Ask what the contractor has inspected and what remains concealed behind walls or below floors. Some repairs cannot be priced accurately until those areas are investigated. The estimate should identify those assumptions.
Discuss how to budget for work that may be uncovered during construction. Keep design fees, owner purchases, and other costs outside the construction estimate in the total project budget.
Review How Changes Will Be Approved
Ask how the contractor handles a change to the agreed work. The proposal should describe the change, its price, and its effect on the schedule, with approval recorded before that work begins. This applies to changes you request and repairs discovered during construction.
At Bau, we explain inclusions, exclusions, and allowances in the estimate. Before changed work begins, we document the change and explain its cost and schedule effects.
Resolve Differences Before Choosing
Send each contractor the same questions about missing work or unclear assumptions. Request updated estimates if the design, selections, or scope changes.
Once the estimates cover comparable work, assess the price alongside the proposed schedule, communication, and responsibilities. If you’re planning a renovation, talk with Bau about your project. We can discuss the work you want to carry out and help develop a construction budget.