Comparing quotes: what to look at before the price

Three quotes are useless if they aren't for the same work. What to check, and in what order.

The instinct is to line up three numbers and take the lowest. The problem: three contractors who understood three different things haven't given you three prices for the same job. Here's what to look at before you get to the amount.

The RBQ licence

A contractor carrying out construction work for others must hold a licence from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec. The register is public and free: check that the number given is active, that it matches the company name on the quote, and that it covers the right subcategory of work. A licence valid for one type of work doesn't carry over to another.

Insurance

Ask for proof of liability insurance, and a compliance certificate from the CNESST (Quebec's workplace health and safety board). If a worker is injured at your home or something is damaged, that's what determines who pays. A certificate takes minutes to request and provide, hesitation on this point is an answer in itself.

What the quote must contain

A detailed description of the work, not a generic line. Materials, with brand and model where it matters. The price and what it includes. Start and completion dates. The payment schedule. The warranty offered and its duration. If something isn't written down, it doesn't exist, regardless of what was said on site.

Exclusions, where the gaps hide

What isn't in the quote explains most of the price differences. Is the municipal permit included? Hauling and disposal of debris? Backfilling and restoring the ground after excavation? Replacing sod, asphalt, pavers? And above all: what happens if the contractor uncovers an unexpected problem once the job is open? A low quote that excludes restoration isn't a low quote.

Payments

Be wary of a large deposit demanded before work starts. A payment schedule tied to actual progress protects both sides, and it's normal to hold back a final portion until everything is finished and inspected. Pay by a method that leaves a record.

Pressure

A price good today only is a sales tactic, not a fact about the job. Take the time to read before signing. Contracts concluded away from a place of business, including at your home, are governed by specific rules in Quebec: check with the Office de la protection du consommateur before signing under pressure.

The best way to get comparable quotes is still to describe the same work, with the same details, to every contractor.