How to Get and Compare Contractor Quotes in Canada: A Homeowner's Guide

Getting a contractor quote sounds simple — but most homeowners don't know how to request one properly, what to look for in the document, or how to compare quotes that seem completely different from each other. This guide walks through the entire process.

How Many Quotes Should You Get?

The standard advice is three quotes minimum for any project over $1,000. Here's why:

One quote gives you no reference point — you have no idea if you're being overcharged
Two quotes gives you a comparison but not a range
Three quotes reveals the market rate and lets you spot outliers in both directions

For large projects ($30,000+), get 4–5 quotes. For small jobs like a faucet replacement or painting one room, one or two quotes is sufficient.

How to Request a Quote Properly

The quality of the quote you receive is directly related to the quality of the information you provide. Before contacting contractors, prepare:

A clear scope description: What exactly do you want done? Be specific — "renovate the kitchen" is not enough. "Replace all upper and lower cabinets, install quartz countertop, add tile backsplash, and replace sink and faucet" is a quoteable scope.
Dimensions: Room dimensions, wall lengths, window counts — whatever is relevant
Material preferences: Do you have a specific product in mind, or should they spec it? High-end vs. mid-range vs. builder grade?
Timeline: When do you want the work done? Are you flexible?
Access: Are you available to let them in, or do they need a key?

Send the same detailed description to all contractors. If they're quoting different scopes, you cannot meaningfully compare their prices.

What a Complete Quote Should Include

A professional written quote should specify:

Exact scope of work (line by line)
Materials: brand, model, grade, quantity
Labour cost (sometimes combined with materials, sometimes separate)
Permit fees (if applicable)
Timeline: start date, estimated completion
Payment schedule
Warranty on workmanship and materials
What is NOT included (exclusions)
Conditions (e.g., "price valid for 30 days")

A quote that's just a single dollar figure on a piece of paper is not a quote — it's a number. Don't accept it.

Why the Lowest Quote Isn't Always the Best Choice

A significantly lower quote usually means one of three things:

Lower-quality materials
A smaller scope of work (they've excluded things the other contractors included)
The contractor doesn't understand the full scope — and will add change orders later

Read every quote line by line and make sure they're covering the same scope. If a quote is more than 20% below the others for the same scope, ask why — the answer will be revealing.

Red Flags in Contractor Quotes

Requesting more than 25–30% upfront as a deposit
Cash only, no receipt
No written quote — just a verbal price
Unusually vague scope descriptions
Pressure to sign immediately
No licence or insurance information on the quote

How to Negotiate Without Damaging the Relationship

Negotiating with a contractor is normal and expected. Some approaches that work:

Tell them you're getting multiple quotes and will decide based on overall value
Ask if there are ways to reduce cost without reducing scope (different materials, phasing the work)
Ask if the price changes if you can be flexible on timing
Never tell one contractor another's price — it creates an adversarial dynamic

Get Quotes from Verified Contractors on Local Skilled Trades

Local Skilled Trades makes it easy to request quotes from multiple verified, reviewed contractors in your area. Every business is licence-checked before listing, so you're starting with a quality shortlist — not random results from a general search.