Contractor Quote Comparison Tool

Three quotes, three totals, and somehow they are never for the same thing. The Contractor Quote Comparison Tool puts up to three bids side by side and normalises each to a cost per square foot so the numbers are actually comparable. Mark what each bid includes — materials, labour, permits, cleanup, design — and the tool flags any quote that quietly omits a required scope item.

Add the area and timeline for each, and the tool ranks the bids, highlights the lowest complete bid, and calls out red flags like a bid that is far below the pack or missing permits. Compare like-for-like before you sign.

• Three quotes side by side: Name, total, area and timeline for each bid.
• Normalised $/ft²: Every bid expressed per square foot for fair comparison.
• Scope matrix: Mark materials, labour, permits, cleanup and design per quote.
• Required scope: Set what the job must include; omissions get flagged.
• Recommendation: Lowest complete bid highlighted, with notes.
• Red-flag checks: Outlier pricing and missing permits surfaced.
• Report & export: Copy or download the comparison as text, CSV or JSON.
• Learning guide: How to read bids and the exclusions that bite.

1. Set required scope. Tick what the job must include.
2. Enter each quote. Name, all-in total, area and weeks.
3. Mark inclusions. Which scope items each bid covers.
4. Read the compare. $/ft², completeness and ranking appear instantly.
5. Check the flag. See which quotes omit required items or sit far off the pack.
6. Export. Copy or download the comparison.

Example 1 — Same scope. $120k, $128k, $124k on 2,000 ft² → $60, $64, $62 /ft²; pick the $60k if scope matches.

Example 2 — Hidden exclusion. A $95k bid looks cheapest until it omits materials — add them and it becomes $140k.

Example 3 — Outlier. Two bids at ~$125k, one at $82k → the $82k is a red flag (missing scope or error).

Example 4 — Timeline. $120k in 6 weeks vs $118k in 14 weeks; if you need to move in, the schedule cost matters.

Example 5 — Permits. The low bid excludes permits; flag it and add the permit cost before comparing.

• Fair comparison: $/ft² removes size differences from the debate.
• No hidden omissions: Scope matrix exposes what each bid leaves out.
• Confident choice: Lowest complete bid, not just lowest number.
• Red-flag radar: Outliers and missing permits surfaced automatically.
• Timeline awareness: Price and schedule compared together.
• Private: No account, nothing uploaded.