Get and compare contractor quotes for a home project
A clear scope to send contractors, questions to ask, and a side-by-side comparison to choose the right quote.
The prompt
Help me hire a contractor for a home project.
Project: [e.g. "replace roof", "bathroom remodel", "fix drainage in backyard"]
What I want done: [DETAILS, materials or finishes if known]
Budget range and timing: [AMOUNT, ideal start and finish]
Location: [CITY/STATE - licensing rules vary]
Quotes I already have (optional): [PASTE EACH QUOTE OR SUMMARY]
Give me:
1. A one-page scope of work I can send to 3 contractors so quotes are comparable (what's included, materials, cleanup, permits, timeline).
2. Questions to ask each contractor: license and insurance, who pulls permits, subcontractors, warranty, payment schedule, change orders, and references for similar jobs.
3. If I've pasted quotes: a comparison table (Contractor | Price | What's included | What's missing | Timeline | Payment terms | Warranty | Concerns) and which items to clarify before deciding.
4. Red flags: large upfront cash deposits, no written contract, pressure to decide today, unwilling to pull permits, door-to-door offers after a storm.
5. What the written contract should include before I sign.
Don't guess at fair prices for my area; tell me how to sanity-check them instead. Point me to my state or local licensing board to verify licenses, and suggest having a lawyer review large contracts.
Highlighted [brackets] are blanks to replace with your own details.
Fill in the blanks and use this promptMore Thinking & Decisions prompts
What to fill in
- DETAILS, materials or finishes if known
- AMOUNT, ideal start and finish
- CITY/STATE - licensing rules vary
- PASTE EACH QUOTE OR SUMMARY
How this prompt is built
This prompt follows the RTF structure (Role, Task, Format). RTF tells the model who to be, what to do and what shape the answer should take. It is the quickest structure that still gives noticeably better results than a bare request.
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