Short answer: before you compare prices, make sure the bids describe the same job. Line them up by scope, then check four things that quietly move the total: allowances, exclusions, who supervises, and how changes get handled. A lower number that leaves out permits, uses thin allowances, or prices changes loosely often isn’t the cheaper job.
1. Line the bids up by scope
Put the estimates side by side and check that each one includes the same rooms, the same work, and the same level of finish. If one bid replaces the subfloor and another doesn’t mention it, they aren’t pricing the same kitchen. A line-item estimate makes this easy; a single lump sum makes it nearly impossible. Ask any contractor who gives you a lump sum to break it out.
2. Check the allowances
An allowance is a budgeted placeholder for something you haven’t picked yet: light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, tile, appliances. Oregon’s Construction Contractors Board recommends that your contract list each allowance item and its budgeted amount. A bid can look cheaper simply because its allowances are low. When you then choose the faucet or tile you actually want, the difference comes back as extra cost. Compare allowances item by item, and ask what each one is meant to buy.
3. Find the exclusions
Read what each bid leaves out, not just what it includes. Common gaps:
- ✓ Permits and inspections: who pulls them, and whether the fees are included. The CCB recommends the contract list the required permits and who is responsible for getting them.
- ✓ Demolition and disposal: hauling, dumpster, and cleanup.
- ✓ Patch and paint: walls and ceilings opened for plumbing or wiring.
- ✓ Appliance and fixture installation and hookups.
- ✓ Trim, transitions, and flooring where the new work meets the old.
- ✓ Repairs found during demolition, and how they’ll be priced.
4. Who runs the job
Ask who manages the project day to day, who is on site, and who you call when something comes up. On our jobs, one of our owners manages every project and is your point of contact from the first visit through the warranty year.
5. Schedule and payments
Compare start dates, how long each contractor expects construction to take, and the payment schedule. The CCB says a contract should include start and end dates and a payment schedule. It also advises never to pay the full amount up front and not to pay in cash.
6. How changes are handled
Every remodel can change once walls open. What matters is the process. The CCB recommends that changes happen only through written change orders signed by both the contractor and the homeowner. Ask each contractor what happens if they find rot or old wiring behind a wall. On our jobs, we stop that part of the work, show you what we found, and present your options before going further; the change is written up before we touch it. More on that in what happens when we open a wall and find more than planned.
7. The warranty
Compare what each warranty covers, for how long, when it starts, and how you request service. Ours is a one-year warranty on our labor and the materials we installed, starting after the final walkthrough.
A worksheet to compare your bids
| Check | Bid A | Bid B | Bid C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Same scope and finish level? | |||
| Itemized, or a lump sum? | |||
| Allowances listed, with amounts? | |||
| Permits included? Who pulls them? | |||
| Demo, disposal, patch and paint included? | |||
| Who manages the job? | |||
| Start date and construction time | |||
| Payment schedule | |||
| Written change orders? | |||
| Warranty: length, start, coverage | |||
| Oregon CCB license active? | |||
| Total price |
Fill in the total last. Print this page with your browser’s print button.
Questions homeowners ask
Should I just take the lowest bid?
Only if the bids cover the same scope, with similar allowances and no missing items. Oregon’s CCB lists automatically accepting the lowest bid as a common mistake, and notes that a higher bid may be worth it for better materials, workmanship, and reliability.
How many bids should I get?
Oregon’s CCB advises getting a few bids before deciding, and never agreeing to buy services on the spot.
Is a written contract required in Oregon?
Yes, for construction agreements of more than $2,000. The CCB also recommends that every change be made through a written change order signed by both you and the contractor.
Want a bid you can compare line by line?
Free consultation and an itemized estimate, with allowances and permits spelled out.
Related: how to choose a general contractor · kitchen remodel cost guide · change orders and hidden conditions.
Source: Oregon Construction Contractors Board, Consumer Tools (retrieved October 28, 2026).
