An apples-to-apples bid comparison checklist for scope, quantities, materials, allowances, exclusions, permits, staffing, schedule, payment terms, change-order pricing, warranties, and total project exposure.
6 items to check
Proposals can be compared only when they address the same drawings, rooms, quantities, demolition, repair limits, finish expectations, owner-supplied items, and completion standard.
Material quality and allowance amounts should be specific enough to compare actual value and avoid a low proposal based on unrealistic selections or omitted accessories.
The proposal should identify who pays and performs permits, design, engineering, inspections, testing, temporary protection, utility coordination, hazardous-material work, debris removal, cleaning, and restoration of disturbed finishes.
Schedule information should distinguish estimated start, working duration, substantial completion, final completion, owner decisions, long-lead items, inspections, and conditions that allow time extensions.
Payment terms should comply with applicable law and tie payments to objectively completed work or delivered value. Change-order labor rates, markups, credits, and documentation should be understandable before selection.
The decision record should include normalized base price, probable allowance use, known options, exclusions, schedule risk, credential strength, references, warranty, and unresolved questions.
Use this checklist after receiving written proposals from verified contractors and before choosing a bidder. It is limited to proposal comparison: it does not replace credential checks, contract review, design coordination, or technical inspection. Compare the same project definition rather than selecting the lowest headline price.
A pre-hire verification checklist for matching the contractor legal identity, license status and classification, disciplinary record, liability insurance, workers compensation, bond, and expiration dates.
A focused reference-call checklist for confirming comparable project experience, scope and budget control, schedule reliability, communication, permits, workmanship, punch-list response, and warranty follow-up.
A pre-signing contract checklist for legal identity, property, detailed scope, plans and selections, dates, permits, price and payment milestones, change orders, cancellation, dispute terms, warranties, closeout documents, and lien risk.
A before-signing change-order checklist for the reason, exact added and deleted scope, drawings and product changes, alternatives, itemized price and credits, markup, schedule impact, permits, warranties, and authorization.