← Contractor Quote AuditorWhat to check on the estimate
- Deposit amount as a percentage of the total
- What the deposit specifically purchases
- Whether it is refundable and under what terms
- Payment method with a written receipt
- Start date committed in exchange for the deposit
- What happens if the job never starts
Questions worth asking
- What does this deposit specifically pay for?
- Is any part of it refundable, and under what conditions?
- Will I get a written receipt showing it applied to this job?
- What start date am I getting in exchange?
- What happens to the deposit if the job never starts?
- Can the deposit be paid by card or check rather than cash?
Run your own quote
Paste or upload the estimate. The free scan lists the sections it found, the sections that look missing or unclear, and a question list you can send to the contractor. It does not tell you whether a price is fair, because that is not something a document review can answer.
Open the free scanSee a sample reportAll sample reportsFrequently asked
Is there a standard deposit amount?
It varies by trade, job size and whether materials are special-ordered. Rather than chasing a number, ask what it buys.
Should I ever pay cash?
A traceable payment method with a receipt protects both sides and makes disputes far easier to resolve.
Free checklists
Printable checklists you can take into the conversation.
Free checklistsEducational checklist only. Not legal, engineering, pricing, contractor-vetting, or building-code advice. This does not decide whether a price is fair or which contractor to hire. Verify everything with your own licensed professional and your local building department.
Independent tool. No contractor marketplace, no lead selling, no referral fees. Payment is not enabled, so nothing on this site can charge you.