You’ve had three contractors walk through your home. Now you’re holding three quotes, and one of them is $15,000 lower than the others.
You want the remodel done right, at a fair price, by someone you can trust. But you’re not a contractor, so you can’t tell whether that low number is a great deal or a setup for trouble.
That’s stressful, and it’s a fair thing to worry about. Plenty of homeowners get burned by a contractor who underbids and then makes it up in change orders, delays, or shortcuts. You shouldn’t have to be a construction expert to avoid that.
I’m a licensed general contractor and the owner of Pro 163 Construction here in Franklin County, and I’m an Army veteran. We’ve been remodeling homes in this area since 2022, and I’ve watched good homeowners make expensive decisions with too little information. So here’s the exact method I’d use to compare bids if I were in your shoes, whether or not you ever call us.
Why the numbers are so far apart
Two bids for the “same” bathroom can differ by thousands for reasons that have nothing to do with quality:
- Different scope. One includes demolition, permits, and haul-away, and the other doesn’t.
- Different materials. A $600 tile allowance and a $3,000 tile allowance are not the same bathroom.
- Left-out work. Plumbing changes, electrical updates, and drywall repair are common gaps that show up later as “extras.”
- Different business practices. Insurance, licensing, and paying subcontractors properly all cost money, and a low bid can come from skipping them.
A low bid isn’t automatically bad. It’s a reason to ask what’s missing.
The 3-step way to compare bids
Step 1: Compare what’s included
Line up all your bids and check what each one covers. Many contractors, including us, quote one total price for the job. That’s fine, as long as the bid also spells out exactly what’s included in that price. If a bid is just a single number with nothing showing what’s inside it, ask for a written scope of work. A contractor who can’t tell you what your money covers is telling you something.
Look for these in each bid:
- Demolition and haul-away
- Permits and inspections (and who pulls them)
- Plumbing, electrical, and framing
- Named materials or specific allowances
- Cleanup and final walkthrough
- Start date and estimated finish
Step 2: Compare the protection
This is where cheap bids usually fall apart. Ask every contractor:
- Are you a licensed general contractor in North Carolina? You can verify it with the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors.
- Can I see your insurance certificate? It should cover general liability and workers’ comp, including subcontractors on your property.
- What warranty do you offer, in writing?
- Who will actually be working in my home?
Step 3: Compare how they’ll treat you
Two things predict how a job will feel: how they ask for money, and how they communicate.
Payment. Watch for these red flags:
- Large upfront payments (30-50% of the job)
- Pressure to sign or pay today
- No written contract
- Payment tied to dates instead of completed work
A fair structure ties what you pay to the work actually done. For reference, here’s how we do it at Pro 163: 5% down at signing (which counts toward your total), weekly invoices for completed work, and the final 5% when the job is substantially complete.
Communication. Ask each contractor, “How will I know what’s happening on my project?” A good answer is specific. (Ours: photo updates every day we’re working on your home.) A vague answer usually means you’ll spend the project chasing them.
What happens if you choose on price alone
You don’t have to pick the most expensive bid. But the cheapest one that skips the protections above can cost you more in the end: change orders that erase the savings, projects that stall, and a contractor who stops answering. Most of the homeowners we work with didn’t choose the lowest number. They chose the contractor they trusted.
Your quick checklist for every contractor
Save this and use it with anyone you’re considering, including us:
- Does the bid clearly show everything that’s included in the price?
- Are permits, demolition, and cleanup included?
- Are materials and allowances named?
- Are they licensed in North Carolina, and can they show proof of insurance?
- Is there a written warranty?
- Is payment tied to completed work, not calendar dates?
- Is the deposit small and clearly credited toward the total?
- Do they have a clear plan for keeping you updated?
- Would their past clients hire them again?
If you’d like a second set of eyes
If you’re comparing bids for a remodel or addition in Youngsville, Wake Forest, Louisburg, Franklinton, or anywhere within about an hour of us, we’re glad to give you a clear quote with a full breakdown of everything included, so you can compare it directly with the others. You’ll put just 5% down, pay only for work that’s done, and get photo updates every day we’re on your job, so you can remodel without the worry.
Request your free estimate or call or text us at (919) 896-9154.