Articles · Before you call someone
How do you get three good quotes for a big job?
You'll replace a furnace or a roof once or twice in your life, and the company quoting it does it every week. Three written quotes close most of that gap, when you have the facts of the job ready before you call and compare the quotes by what each includes.
What this means for your home
Before a big job like a furnace or a roof, you'll want the make, model and age of what you have, when it was last serviced, and photos of the nameplate and the problem. A contractor who gets this up front gives you a tighter number. After the job, keep all three quotes and the contractor's details, so the next time it comes up you know what it cost and who did it.
Before you call
Put the facts of the job in one place. For a furnace, that's the make, model and age of the one you have, the size of the house, the fuel, and when it was last serviced. For a roof, it's the square footage, the pitch, the current material and its age, and whether there's more than one layer. Take photos of the nameplate and of the problem. A contractor who gets this up front gives you a tighter number.
Check the license and insurance before the visit. The Federal Trade Commission says to use only licensed and insured contractors. Confirm the license with your state or county and ask for proof of insurance. Ask people you trust who they've used.
Sources: Federal Trade Commission: How to avoid a home improvement scam
What a quote should show
- The work, the materials, the completion date and the price. The FTC says to get three written estimates and that each should have these.
- The equipment by make and model number, so you can compare like with like.
- What's included, such as permits, disposal of the old unit, the thermostat, the electrical work and the inspection.
- What's not included, in writing.
- The warranty on parts and the warranty on labor, and who stands behind each.
- Payment terms. The FTC says to limit the down payment, and some states cap it.
Sources: Federal Trade Commission: How to avoid a home improvement scam
Comparing three that don't match, and after you choose
They won't match. Line them up by what each includes. The lowest quote is often missing something. The FTC says not to pick the lowest bidder automatically and to ask for an explanation when the numbers are far apart.
Ask each contractor what they'd do if this were their house, and what's most likely to go wrong.
Once you've chosen, get a contract with the contractor's name, address, phone and license number, the same details as the quote, and a schedule. Keep all three quotes and the contractor's details. The next time this job comes up you'll want to know what it cost and who did it.
Sources: Federal Trade Commission: How to avoid a home improvement scam
What this doesn't tell you
The quotes won't match line for line, and the lowest is often missing something, so compare what each includes before you compare the price. Some states cap the down payment, and a contractor's license is confirmed with your state or county.
Your next step, one thing to do in Lyle
Open the chat and tell Lyle about the job before you call anyone. It keeps whatever you've told it about your systems, like the nameplates, the ages and the service history, and it tells you what the contractors will ask, so you have the answers in one place.
Questions people ask
What should I have ready before I call a contractor?
For a furnace, the make, model and age of the one you have, the size of the house, the fuel, and when it was last serviced. For a roof, the square footage, the pitch, the current material and its age, and whether there's more than one layer. Take photos of the nameplate and of the problem.
What should a written quote include?
The work, the materials, the completion date and the price, which the FTC says every written estimate should have. Also the equipment by make and model number, what's included and what isn't, the warranty on parts and on labor, and the payment terms.
Should I take the lowest quote?
No, not automatically. The FTC says to ask for an explanation when the numbers are far apart. The lowest quote is often missing something, so line the quotes up by what each includes first.
How much should I pay up front?
The FTC says to limit the down payment, and some states cap it.
What should I keep after the job is done?
The contract, all three quotes and the contractor's details. The next time the job comes up you'll want to know what it cost and who did it.