Seven Red Flags in a Renovation Quote
No bad quote introduces itself as a bad quote. These are the signs that, caught in time, save you the expensive part of the lesson.
The seven signs
- One single round number. Without line items there is no way to know what you are buying — or to claim anything afterwards.
- Much cheaper than everyone else. If three quotes are similar and one is drastically lower, you have not found a bargain: you have found the one who plans to recover the difference along the way.
- Pressure to sign today. “This price is only for today” works on shopping channels, not on a job that will last months.
- Everything up front. Payment should follow progress, not precede it. A reasonable deposit is normal; most of the total before starting is not.
- Nothing in writing. Verbal quote, verbal changes, verbal deadlines: when something goes wrong, it is your word against theirs.
- Nobody asks you anything. Whoever quotes a serious job asks questions, measures, and wants to see the property. A price given without a visit is a random number on letterhead.
- Mid-job material swaps “for an equivalent”. Without a written reference, “equivalent” always ends up meaning “cheaper”.
What to do if you have already seen one
Seeing a red flag does not mean running away: it means asking. Request the breakdown, the references, the timelines in writing. The reaction to that request — cooperation or annoyance — is usually all the information you needed.