Why three estimates may be impossible to compare

Why three estimates may be impossible to compare.

Everyone always thinks getting estimates is doing the right thing and in some cases, it may be. But how can you as a homeowner with no construction experience know what you're looking at?

If three estimators show up I would almost guess you will get three different prices, if they cannot figure it out how can you?

The simple answer is you can't and measuring each company by the price they give is the number one issue. Comparing companies by the price they give is not telling the whole story.

There are so many things un said you need to know about and that is why we say we don't have competitors based off of that.

• Does the company offer a training program to the people doing the work?
• Do they have a company orientation program?
• Do they offer their employees any benefits at all?
• Are their employees really employees or subcontractors coming and going.
• Do they offer a career to their employees?
• Do they have the backing of their manufactures?

These are just a few of the things you should be looking for, anyone can throw out low prices or even high prices, the price alone tells you nothing at all on how that project will go.

Did they answer the phone and return calls in a timely fashion? If they don't do that now when they are trying to win your business how will that go once they have it?

Did they introduce you tot he foreman who will be doing your work? Do they have a supervisor at all?

These are all questions you should ask yourself when searching for a company to do any work in or around your home. You hear so many scary contractor stories and invariably someone didn't do their homework on the contractor. Not all contractors are bad at all. By doing a bit of work on your end and interviewing the estimator you can learn a lot about their company and how your project will be managed, because not only are you paying for a service you are paying for someone to manage it as well.