How to check a price, quote or bill
Our pricing guides explain how each trade builds its price. These articles are the other half: how to judge a quote or a bill yourself, whatever the trade — what to compare, what to ask, and what to do when something doesn't add up.
Check your bill or quoteAll articles
Is my contractor quote fair?
The nine things to read on a quote before you sign, and the question to ask about each one.
Why two quotes differ so much
A $5,000 and an $8,000 quote are usually two different jobs. Here's how to spot the difference.
How to compare two quotes
An eleven-row checklist you can fill in with both quotes in front of you at the kitchen table.
The price changed mid-job
"We didn't know until we opened it up." How to tell a legitimate change order from a moving target.
How to negotiate a quote
The questions that surface real savings — and why "can you do better?" is the weakest one.
Is this bill too high?
One method that works on any bill — repair, utility, telecom, insurance, medical or subscription.
Why did my bill go up?
Nine common causes of a sudden increase, and how to work out which one applies to you.
Before you pay: 10 checks
Ten minutes, ten checks, any large bill. The umbrella checklist for everything else here.
Think you were overcharged?
How to investigate calmly and effectively — including how to tell a price problem from a scope problem.
Is my insurance bill too high?
Why premiums jump at renewal, and a line-by-line way to find what actually changed.
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