← Contractor Quote AuditorWhat to check on the estimate
- Deposit size relative to the total
- Draws tied to milestones rather than dates
- Retainage held until the punch list is finished
- Payment method and written receipts
- Lien waivers from subcontractors and suppliers
- Written cancellation terms before work starts
Questions worth asking
- How much is the deposit, and what does it specifically pay for?
- Are the remaining payments tied to completed milestones?
- How much is held back until the punch list is finished?
- Will I get written receipts and a paid-in-full statement?
- Will you provide lien waivers from subs and suppliers?
- What are the written cancellation terms before work starts?
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 a large deposit always a problem?
No. Custom materials and special orders justify real money up front. The question is what the deposit buys and whether that is written down.
What is retainage?
A small percentage held back until the final list of fixes is done. It keeps the last details from being abandoned.
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.