Why three is the magic number
One bid tells you nothing. You have no idea whether it is fair, high or padded. Two bids force a coin flip. Three written bids, on the other hand, reveal the fair-market range for your project. When two land close together and one is way off, you instantly know which is the outlier, whether that is a contractor overcharging or one underbidding to win the work.
Three bids also changes the dynamic. No single contractor can pressure you into "signing today" when they know you are comparing. It keeps everyone honest and gives you room to negotiate from a position of knowledge.
Compare apples to apples
The trick is making sure all three bids cover the same scope of work. A bid is only comparable if it includes the same demolition, cabinets, countertops, plumbing, electrical, flooring and finishes. Give each contractor the same project description so you are comparing like for like. When you read the bids, look at:
- What is included and excluded in each line.
- Material allowances, since a low number often hides cheap materials.
- The payment schedule, which should be tied to milestones.
- The timeline, and how realistic it sounds.
Why the cheapest bid is rarely the best
A bid that is dramatically lower than the others is usually missing scope, planning to substitute cheaper materials, or lowballing on purpose to win the job and pile on change orders later. Treat a too-good-to-be-true number as a warning, not a win. The patterns are covered in how to avoid contractor scams.
Vet each bidder first
Before you weigh the numbers, confirm each contractor is registered, bonded and insured on lni.wa.gov. Here is the quick way to check that a contractor is licensed, and the full list of questions to ask while you collect bids.
The fastest way to line up three solid bids is to get free quotes from vetted Washington pros and compare them side by side.