You've collected three bids for the same project and the numbers aren't close. It's tempting to assume the lowest one is the best deal, or that the highest one is padded. Usually, neither is true. The bids are just pricing different projects.
1. Make sure everyone is pricing the same plans
A fair comparison starts with every contractor pricing the same completed plans and specifications. If one bid assumes a mid-range tile and another assumes your designer's pick, the numbers will never line up. Share the same drawings and selections with everyone, and ask each contractor to list what they assumed.
2. Look for what's missing
The easiest way to lower a bid is to leave things out. Check whether each estimate includes:
Project management and scheduling
General labor, protection, and daily cleanup
Demolition, haul-away, and dumpster fees
Permits and inspections
Allowances for fixtures and finishes, and whether those allowances are realistic
Make sure project management and general labor are included in the project budget.
3. Understand allowances and unknowns
Remodeling is a process of discovery. Once walls, ceilings, or floors are opened, hidden conditions can turn up. A good estimate tells you how those situations will be handled: how they're documented, how they're priced, and how you approve them before work continues.
4. Compare the people, not just the price
Ask who will run your project day to day, who the subcontractors are, and how long they've worked together. Experience matters. An experienced contractor led by a seasoned craftsman brings trusted relationships with subcontractors, suppliers, and artisans, and that shows in the finished work.
How we price
Sueco proposals are fixed-price and organized by trade, with project management and general labor included and clear payment terms. If something changes, it's written up and approved before the work proceeds.
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Pre-Construction Checklist
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