Most homeowners pick the wrong quote because they look at price first. But three contractors pricing the same project almost always come back with different numbers, sometimes with a 30 to 50 percent spread. That gap doesn't come from one being expensive and another being cheap. It comes from them not pricing the same thing: different materials assumed, different allowances baked in, different reserves for the unexpected. Reading three quotes properly is learning to see what isn't written.
Why Prices Diverge So Much
When a contractor builds a quote, they make a series of invisible choices. What level of finish are they assuming? How many hours for demolition? What brand of materials? What margin for surprises? Two quotes that look comparable can rest on very different assumptions.
The most common source of variance is allowances. A contractor who includes "$2,000 for plumbing fixtures" expects you to pick basic Moen. Another who provisions $4,500 lets you go for Riobel or Kohler. In the end, you pay the difference, just at different moments: the first invoices it mid-project as an "extra," the second baked it in upfront. The cheaper bid becomes the more expensive one at final settlement.
The second spread comes from how each contractor prices unknowns. On a renovation, surprises always come out of the walls: galvanized pipes to replace, water-damaged framing, electrical that's no longer to code. An experienced contractor reserves 10 to 15 percent for that. Another, more optimistic or more eager to win the job, doesn't. The opening number looks lower, but the final invoice climbs over the project.
The Lines That Actually Matter
When you put three quotes side by side, look at these six elements before the total.
Detailed scope of work. A good quote describes each room, each material, each step in enough detail that another contractor could execute the same mandate. A vague quote ("bathroom renovation: $28,000") leaves all interpretation to the contractor.
Itemized allowances. How much per square foot for tile? How much for plumbing fixtures? For lighting? Without these lines, you can't compare apples to apples.
Clearly listed exclusions. Good quotes state what they don't cover (final paint, moving furniture, appliance hookup, municipal permits). No exclusions listed = exclusions hidden.
Schedule and duration. Start date, expected duration, key milestones. A contractor who won't commit to dates won't commit to anything.
Payment terms. Reasonable deposit (10 to 20 percent), payments tied to concrete milestones, final retainer (5 to 10 percent) released at final inspection. 50 percent deposit upfront? Red flag.
Written warranty. Beyond the legal warranty in the Civil Code (3 to 5 years depending on the work), the contractor should specify the duration and scope of their commercial warranty, and how it's honoured if the company closes.
Red Flags
Some details in a quote should make you back away even when the price is appealing:
A quote of less than one page for a project over $20,000. A deposit asked in cash or direct transfer without an itemized invoice. A contractor pushing for a fast signature "before prices go up." An RBQ licence number that doesn't verify, or that belongs to another company. No proof of liability insurance or CNESST clearance. References you can't reach, or that all turn out to be the contractor's relatives.
None of these signals taken alone is fatal, but two or three together almost always mean trouble mid-project. Useful rule: if something feels off about the quote, you're probably right.
Verifying Before You Sign
Three basic checks eliminate 80 percent of risk:
The RBQ licence number verifies in two minutes on rbq.gouv.qc.ca. Type it in, the site confirms whether the licence is active and which category of work it covers. A "small building" licence doesn't cover a structural addition.
Ask for two or three recent references (under 18 months) and actually call. Not an email, a call. Good contractors have proud clients who don't mind 10 minutes on the phone. Bad ones have excuses about why they can't share contacts.
Liability insurance certificate and current CNESST certificate, delivered before work begins. Without those, an accident on your property could land on your plate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many quotes should I get?
Three is the norm and is generally enough to give you a range of prices and approaches. Below three, you don't really have a point of comparison. Above five, you dilute your attention and waste serious contractors' time, which often pushes them to prioritize other clients.
Is the cheapest quote always suspect?
Not automatically, but it deserves more questions than the others. If it's 25 to 40 percent below the two others for the same described scope, ask explicitly what isn't included, what brand of materials is assumed, and how much is reserved for surprises. Often the gap comes from very low allowances you'll pay later.
Should I pay a contractor a deposit upfront?
A 10 to 20 percent deposit at signing is normal so the contractor can buy materials and lock in a start date. Above 20 percent, be cautious. Subsequent payments should be tied to concrete milestones (demolition complete, plumbing roughed in, etc.), not arbitrary calendar dates.
What if the contractor refuses to put an exclusion in writing?
That's a serious red flag. A good quote protects both parties by clarifying who does what. If a contractor pushes back on formalizing exclusions in writing ("we'll figure it out"), it's usually because they expect to invoice extras throughout the job. Insist, or pick another contractor.
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