You have a vision for your project, researched what materials you want for the job, researched the contractors you want to bid on your job, and have met with them. You are now at one of the most important parts of the process of hiring a contractor and having them begin the work. Reading and understanding the bids you have received.
It is tempting to take the bids and immediately go to the bottom line and look for the lowest bid. We at Stone Draft Homes have lost bids because of this multiple times, and to be honest, that is a tough part of the job. What makes it frustrating and disappointing is bids not being compared properly.
Why Compare Bids
Unless every contractor gives the same specifications for your job, things like drawings, material lists, and product names put together by an architect or designer, the bids presented to you are just best guesses for what you want.
If this does not happen, the contractor is guessing as to what you want as the project unfolds. This guess is dependent on the vision you gave him and the discussions you had. Things like the type of tiles for the floor or the finishing of the walls. Each assumption could be the difference of hundreds of dollars that in the end equals thousands of dollars.
As you read the bid, the first key is to look at how the bid is put together. The character of the contractor is seen in this step. If organized well, it will include all the details of what you asked for and delivered when you agreed. Then it is safe to assume the job will be the same way. If written on a cocktail napkin with just a total price of the job, then I would question the professionalism of the contractor.
Does the bid contain every aspect of the job? Things like porta-potty for the crew, dumpster to haul away the trash and debris, costs for pulling the permits with the city, and the contract price for each item. These all need to be included in the bid because each of these costs will be passed on to you.
Another thing to look for is listing the exact amount of each item needed. How many boxes of tiles is the contractor saying they will need? There is a difference in a bid that says tiles for floor amount $1,000 and one that says 14 boxes of 12 x 12 ceramic tiles amount $1,385. It is not just in the amount either. Make sure the contractor gives a detailed list of every supply he will need to do the job.
Though the look and feel of the submitted bid do not guarantee a professional job will be done with excellence, it does give a sign that one will be done. Here at Stone Draft Homes, we want to have the opportunity to bid on your next job by giving you a detailed bid that will complete the vision you have for your project. Contact us today.