Due to communication issues, knowledge gaps and the insufficient specificity employed by contractors when drafting scopes (sorry guys but it’s true), there exists a gap between briefs (what the homeowner thinks they are getting) and scopes (what the contractor is actually offering) and as such the given price (how much it costs the homeowner to receive the scope) is often not reflective of their expectations.
And that’s the sad truth - bids on the exact same project can be WILDLY different from each other. Use the advice below to help standardize the bids you receive, so you can compare them accurately – and wind up with the best outcome.
You want to ensure that the bids you get are easily comparable. The best way to do this is to walk around the house and write down exactly what you want, and find comparable pictures from magazines or websites and include them). Put your budget range and a material spec sheet in there as well, including the appliances, lighting, cabinetry, and any other details. Do a chart for each room – write out the tasks (install, remove, finish, paint) and the products you want.
Adding a floor plan is always helpful.