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Compare contractor quotes like a pro.

(without needing to become one)

Upload every contractor quote, and our purpose-built AI normalizes line-items, flags missing scope, and predicts real-world costs. So you can choose with confidence.

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Trained on 400+ real-world bids vetted by expert roofers, siding, window & remodel pros.
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Why Budgets Blow Up

1 in 3

Renovations run over budget because critical scope is missing from the original bid.

5-20%

Average cost creep once construction starts.

∞

Headaches avoided when you catch gaps before signing a contract.

How TrueTotals Works

  1. Upload any quote—PDF, photo, spreadsheet, even a napkin sketch.
  2. Normalize line-items—lumber is lumber, “demo & haul-off” is debris removal— apples-to-apples.
  3. Gap Scan™ flags missing scope: permits, dumpsters, finish hardware.
  4. TrueTotals Report—real-world total, risk score, and plain-English explanation.

≈60 sec / quote

How we help you compare

Bid A full image
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Detailed apples-to-apples comparison generated from both proposals

Siding Proposal Comparison

Vendor names redacted • All figures USD

Line Item Bid A Bid B Why It Matters Importance
Scope / Areas Covered Chimney only Chimney + Sunroom & 13 trims Bid B tackles ~2× the siding.
Decide if the sunroom needs a refresh now.		 HIGH
Paint Work Full two‑coat repaint Touch‑ups only Full repaint = fresh, even color.
Touch‑ups may show if paint is faded.		 HIGH
Hidden‑Rot Rates 2×4 $6/ft • 2×8 $8/ft 2×4 $25/ft • header $45/ft If rot is found, Bid B costs a lot more.
Ask to cap or pre‑approve extras.		 HIGH
Workmanship Warranty Not specified 25‑yr Warranty covers fixing install mistakes.
Get Bid A to put theirs in writing.		 HIGH
Roof‑line Flashing Kick‑out + step Step only Kick‑out piece pushes water away.
Helps prevent hidden wall rot.		 HIGH
Siding Style Hardie Cedarmill Hardie Smooth Wood‑grain vs flat look.
Pick the one you like.		 MED
Weather Barrier Generic wrap Tyvek‑class wrap Both keep water out behind siding.
Brand name mainly adds peace of mind.		 MED
Payment Schedule ⅓‑⅓‑⅓ (2.5 % CC) 50‑50 (3 % CC) Bid A holds less of your cash.
Ask Bid B if smaller draws are OK.		 MED
Start / Lead Time 4‑6 weeks 2‑3 weeks Faster start if you have leaks.
Otherwise pick the best fit.		 MED
Permit / Inspection Homeowner pulls Contractor pulls Letting the contractor handle it
saves you paperwork time.		 MED
Lien Holdback No holdback noted 10 % retainage Keeping last 10 % ensures punch‑list
items get finished.		 MED
Crew Credentials In‑house crew Sub‑contracted crew Subs are common—just verify
their insurance and reviews.		 MED
Trim Thickness 5/4″ (1.25″) 4/4″ (1.0″) Thicker trim throws a deeper shadow.
Purely visual—no durability change. 		LOW
Material Warranty Reg. Homeowner registers Contractor registers Hardie warranty needs online signup.
Nice if the contractor handles it. 		LOW
Siding Price (scope only) $3,567 $7,369 (incl. sun-room) Numbers look far apart because scope is.
Ask both for matching square-footage.
Painting Price (optional) $4,870 (full two-coat) N/A — touch-ups only To match Bid A finish, add full repaint to Bid B.
Otherwise color may not be uniform.
Total Estimated Cost* $8,437 $7,369 Bid A total = siding + paint.
Bid B paint not included yet.

* Figures taken from original proposals; update once revised.

Conclusion

  • Scope. Bid B covers roughly twice the surface area plus trim; you need matching scopes before you can judge pricing.
  • Paint. Bid A includes a full two-coat repaint; Bid B is touch-up only. Decide whether a full repaint add-on is worth the cost.
  • Hidden-rot rates. Bid B’s framing repair pricing is steep—negotiate or set a not-to-exceed cap.
  • Durability perks. Bid A includes kick-out flashing at the roof-line; Bid B offers a 25-year workmanship warranty—both are meaningful long-term benefits.

Follow-Up Questions

Questions for Bid A

  • Could you provide an updated quote that includes the sun-room wall (same siding style and trim) so we’re comparing the same square footage?
  • Please confirm the length and coverage of your workmanship warranty.
  • Confirm that kick-out flashing will be installed at all roof-to-wall intersections.
  • If we sign within the next two weeks, what’s the estimated start date and project duration?

Questions for Bid B

  • What is the additional cost to apply a full two-coat Sherwin-Williams repaint instead of touch-ups?
  • Can we agree on a not-to-exceed cap for hidden rot repairs, given your current per-foot rates?
  • Will you use ring-shank nails and install kick-out flashing if requested, and does that affect the price?
  • Is there flexibility to split the 50 % deposit into smaller progress payments (e.g., 30 % at start, 20 % mid-way)?

Bottom Line

Both bids look solid, but align the scope (areas + paint), lock in warranty terms, and cap unexpected rot repairs before choosing a winner.

What You Get

Instant Line-Item Match

No more highlighting 37 pages of contractor-speak.

Hidden-Cost Detector

Finds omissions & low-ball allowances before they bite.

Risk Score

See which bid is most likely to explode your budget.

Jargon Translator

“10 LF 2×6 PT sill plate” becomes “10 ft of pressure-treated 2×6 framing.”

Shareable PDF

Hand it to your spouse, GC, lender—or the next contractor who needs a wake-up call.

FAQs

Why trust an AI with a six-figure project?

We trained TrueTotals on 400+ verified quotes reviewed by expert roofers, siding and window contractors, so it knows real-world pricing—and spots red flags humans miss after page 12.

Can it catch outright fraud?

TrueTotals flags anything outside industry norms. You decide whether it’s an honest mistake or something more… creative.

Does it handle handwritten bids?

Yep. Snap a photo—OCR and model clean-up do the rest. (Legible handwriting helps!)

Ready to see your bids side-by-side?

(Drag & drop a quote—clarity in under a minute.)

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