What a complete service quote should include
A complete quote names the legal business and its license, describes the scope and the exclusions in specific terms, specifies materials, states who pulls permits, gives a schedule, breaks price into labor, materials, and fees, sets payment milestones, and states the warranty and an expiration date for the price. A one-line total is not a quote — it is a number.
Last updated August 19, 2026
The checklist
| Section | What it should say |
|---|---|
| Business details | Legal business name, address, phone, license number and state, and the name of the person signing. |
| Scope of work | Specific tasks, quantities, and locations. "Repair roof" is not scope; "replace 12 squares of shingle on the north slope" is. |
| Exclusions | What is explicitly not included — disposal, repairs to hidden damage, painting, landscaping, permits. |
| Materials | Brand, model, grade, colour, and quantity, plus who supplies them. |
| Permits and inspections | Whether a permit is required, who pulls it, whose name it is in, and whether the fee is included. |
| Schedule | Start window, expected duration, and what causes it to move. |
| Price breakdown | Labour, materials, equipment, disposal, permit fees, and tax shown separately rather than as one lump. |
| Payment terms | Deposit amount, milestone payments tied to completed work, and final payment on completion. |
| Change orders | How additional work is priced and approved in writing before it is performed. |
| Warranty | Length and coverage of the labour warranty, plus manufacturer warranties on materials. |
| Validity | How long the price holds. Material prices move; a quote without an expiry invites a later surprise. |
How to compare two quotes fairly
- Line the scopes up side by side before you look at the totals. Different scopes explain most price gaps.
- Check the material grade. A cheaper quote often specifies a lower-spec product.
- Check who carries the permit and disposal costs — those are frequently excluded from the low quote.
- Compare warranty length on labour, not only on materials.
- Compare deposit size and payment structure. A large up-front deposit shifts risk to you.
Requesting quotes on Kuldesac
A quote request posted on Kuldesac goes only to providers whose category matches your request and whose drawn service area contains your address. Providers pay a flat monthly subscription, so no one pays a fee to receive your request and nothing is charged per lead. That means responses come from pros who actually work at your address rather than from whoever bought the lead.
How many quotes should I get?
Enough to compare scope, not just price. For most work that is two or three; for large or structural work, more is reasonable.
Should a quote be free?
Many are, but diagnostic visits and detailed design work are often chargeable. Ask before booking so there is no surprise fee.
Is a quote binding?
That depends on how it is written and on your state's law. A document labelled "estimate" generally is not. Read what the document calls itself.