Compare your quotes
Two bids for the same job are not comparable until the same things are in both of them. Check each one, then read them against each other.
Side-by-side is coming, and here is what it needs first
Running quotes against each other is only useful once we can read them reliably enough to say the same line item in two documents is the same thing. Today the checker reads one quote at a time and tells you what it omits — which already does most of the work, because the difference between two bids is usually scope rather than rate.
Until then: check each bid separately, then put the two readouts beside each other. The “what we read from your quote” block at the bottom of each result is the part to compare line by line.
What actually differs between bids
In rough order of how much money it moves, from what we see in real quotes.
| What differs | Why it happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | One bid includes the permit, the disposal, the electrical work. The other leaves them out and lands them on you later. | List every exclusion from both and price the gap before comparing totals. |
| Equipment tier | Same capacity, different efficiency, warranty length or brand tier. The cheaper unit may cost more to run. | Get the model numbers and the AHRI reference for each, then compare like for like. |
| Overhead and margin | The single widest variable. A larger business carries more cost and may also carry more warranty. | Ask what the labor warranty is. A longer one is part of the price. |
| Payment terms | A 50% deposit and a 10% deposit are materially different offers at the same headline price. | Check what your state caps, then negotiate to milestones. |