Contractor: ABC Construction Co.
Bid Total: $412,500
Sq Footage: 2,200 sq ft
Finish Level: Mid-Range
$31,400+
Documented Issues
Full Line-Item Review
| Trade / Line Item |
Bid |
Fair Range |
Status |
| Site prep & excavation | $8,500 | $6,000–$10,000 | ✓ OK |
| Foundation — poured concrete | $24,000 | $18,000–$27,000 | ✓ OK |
| Framing — lumber & labor | $38,500 | $33,000–$44,000 | ✓ OK |
| Roofing — 30-sq architectural shingles | $18,400 | $10,500–$13,500 | ⚑ HIGH |
| Windows & exterior doors | $22,000 | $14,500–$18,000 | ⚑ HIGH |
| Rough plumbing | $14,200 | $11,000–$16,000 | ✓ OK |
| Rough electrical | $18,500 | $14,000–$20,000 | ✓ OK |
| HVAC — equipment & install | $22,000 | $18,000–$26,000 | ✓ OK |
| Insulation — spray foam + batt | $9,800 | $7,500–$11,000 | ✓ OK |
| Drywall — hang, tape & finish | $16,500 | $13,000–$18,000 | ✓ OK |
| Interior doors, trim & hardware | $12,000 | $9,000–$14,000 | ✓ OK |
| Kitchen — cabinets, counters & appliances | $18,000 | $35,000–$55,000 | ⚠ LOW |
| Flooring allowance — all areas | $14,000 | $22,000–$32,000 | ⚠ LOW |
| Painting — interior & exterior | $14,500 | $11,000–$17,000 | ✓ OK |
| Exterior siding — fiber cement | $28,000 | $22,000–$31,000 | ✓ OK |
| Plumbing fixtures — baths & kitchen | $9,200 | $7,000–$12,000 | ✓ OK |
| Builder O&P (18% of direct costs) | $48,000 | $42,000–$52,000 | ✓ OK |
| Yard work & grading | NOT LISTED | $8,000–$14,000 | ⚑ MISSING |
| Buffer for unexpected costs | NOT LISTED | 5–10% of total | ⚑ MISSING |
Problems Found — Full Breakdown
⚑ Overcharged · #1 priority
Roofing — 30-sq architectural shingles, installed
Fair Range
$10,500–$13,500
⚑ $5,000–$7,900 more than it should cost
What to say: "Your roofing price works out to $6.13 per square foot installed. For standard 30-year shingles in this area, the going rate is $3.50–$4.50 per square foot. I need to see your materials and labor costs broken out separately. I'll go to $13,500 total."
⚑ Overcharged · #2 priority
Windows & exterior doors — 24 units
Fair Range
$14,500–$18,000
⚑ $4,000–$7,500 more than market price · no per-item breakdown provided
What to say: "Your window and door package works out to $916 per window for 24 openings. Standard windows in this price range run $600–$750 each installed. I need a price listed for each window and door separately. If you're using a premium product, show me exactly which one. Otherwise I want to see $16,000 total."
⚠ Budget set too low · you'll pay more after signing
Kitchen — cabinets, countertops & appliances
What It Actually Costs
$35,000–$55,000
⚠ $17,000+ short — this won't pay for a real kitchen
What this means: The contractor put $18,000 in the contract for your entire kitchen. That won't cover it. Cabinets alone typically run $12,000–$18,000. Add countertops ($4,000–$7,000) and appliances ($6,000–$12,000) and you're already at $22,000–$37,000 — before anyone swings a hammer. The difference gets added as an extra charge after you've signed. Get a real kitchen quote before signing, or have the number raised to at least $40,000. Do not sign with this number in the contract.
⚠ Budget set too low · you'll pay more after signing
Flooring — all areas, 2,200 sq ft
What It Actually Costs
$22,000–$32,000
⚠ $8,000+ short — only covers the cheapest vinyl flooring, nothing else
What this means: At $14,000 for 2,200 sq ft, this budget only covers basic vinyl flooring in a couple of rooms. Nothing left for hardwood, tile, or carpet anywhere else in the house. Real flooring for a home this size runs $22,000–$32,000. Have the number raised to at least $24,000, or get a room-by-room flooring quote attached before you sign.
⚑ Left out of the bid entirely
Yard work & grading
Expected Cost
$8,000–$14,000
⚑ Not in the contract — you'll get a separate bill for this after you've signed
What this means: Leveling the yard, seeding grass, and basic landscaping aren't included anywhere in this bid. This isn't optional — your final inspection before move-in requires proper drainage and a graded yard. You'll need to budget $8,000–$14,000 on top of the contract price. Ask for a landscaping line item before you sign.
⚑ Left out of the bid entirely
Buffer for unexpected costs
What You Should Have
5–10% of total
⚑ No buffer in the contract — any surprise costs come straight out of your pocket
What this means: Every construction contract should include a buffer of 5–10% for unexpected costs. On a $412,500 project that's $20,000–$41,000. Without it, anything that goes wrong — bad soil, a price increase, a mistake that needs fixing — gets added to your bill after you've already signed. Require at least $20,000 added to the contract as a buffer before you sign.
What to Do Before You Sign
1. Ask for roofing and window prices broken out line by line — materials separate from labor — before you discuss anything else.
2. Have the kitchen budget raised to $40,000, or get a real kitchen quote attached to the contract.
3. Have the flooring budget raised to $24,000.
4. Make sure yard grading and a buffer for unexpected costs are both written into the contract.
5. Total: $31,400+ in documented problems on a $412,500 bid.
Total documented issues
$31,400+
Trades reviewed
19 of 19 line items
