How to compare contractor and supplier quotes
What to check in a supplier or contractor quote before you sign: items, quantities, the total, validity, delivery time and payment terms.
Two quotes with the same total can be very different: one includes delivery and installation, the other doesn't; one is valid for 30 days, the other for a week. Before signing with a supplier or contractor, check the same points on every quote.
1. Are the items the same?
Compare item by item, not just the total. Look at the description (brand, model, thickness, grade), the quantity and the unit (sq ft, cubic yards, each, bag). A difference in quantity usually explains a price that looks too good.
2. Does the sum match the total?
It sounds obvious, but arithmetic mistakes happen — especially in quotes written by hand or copied from another job. Add up the items and compare with the printed total.
3. What's included
- Labor, or materials only?
- Delivery and unloading?
- Debris removal and cleanup?
- A warranty on the work, and for how long?
4. Validity, lead time and payment
Write down until when the price holds, how many days until the material arrives or the work starts, and the payment terms. Avoid paying everything upfront: installments tied to finished stages protect you if the work runs late.
5. Does it fit the stage?
Compare the quote with the stage's planned amount. If it goes over, decide before approving: cut the scope, change the material or adjust the build's budget — not afterwards, when the bill has arrived.
Get at least three quotes for the big jobs (structure, roof, electrical, plumbing) and always use the same item list so the comparison is fair.
In the app
In Minha Obra you send the quote's PDF (in the app or on WhatsApp) and AI reads the items and amounts, checks the sum against the PDF's total and warns you when it doesn't match. You approve, reject or decide later — once approved, it becomes a bill on the stage, and the app reminds you before the offer expires.