Contractor bid guide

How to Ask a Contractor to Itemize a Bid

You usually do not need every nail priced separately. You do need enough structure to understand major work packages, allowances, exclusions, and responsibilities.

Ask for meaningful work packages

Request categories such as demolition, cabinets, countertops, plumbing, electrical, flooring, painting, roofing, HVAC, or other relevant trades instead of a single total.

Separate allowances and owner purchases

Ask the contractor to identify selection allowances and anything you must buy directly. This keeps the base bid from looking artificially low.

Ask for clarifications where bids differ

If another proposal includes a scope category this one does not mention, ask whether it is included, excluded, or not required under this contractor's approach.

Use the decision as the starting baseline

When you choose a contractor, preserve the accepted scope, price, allowances, and payment milestones. CheckMyBids is the pre-hire side of the workflow; CheckMyRemodel is where the awarded project continues when changes and payments start.

Compare your own bids.

Use a free CheckMyBids tool or start a Bid Snapshot before you sign.

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