Trusted by Canadian homeowners

Know what you're signing before you hire a contractor

Upload your contractor quote and get a detailed review — built by a team with nearly two decades in residential construction. We find what most homeowners miss.

Upload your quote for review
85%
of projects go over budget
28%
average cost overrun
53%
of homeowners exceed budget with a contractor
No account required Documents are not stored Confidential review Built for Canadian construction Pay only if you want the full report
How it works

Three steps. One report. Complete clarity.

No account, no phone call, no waiting days for a callback. Upload your quote and get your review.
01
Upload your quote
Paste the text, upload a PDF, or add photos of your contractor's quote. Include your plans if you have them — it helps us cross-reference scope against what's actually drawn.
02
We review the full scope
Your quote is reviewed against Canadian construction benchmarks, regional pricing data, and the standard scope expected for your project type. We check whether the price makes sense for the work described and flag what's missing, unclear, or likely to change.
03
Get your report
Receive a detailed findings report with a risk score, dollar impact estimates for every issue, and the exact questions to ask your contractor before you sign. Download as a PDF to bring to your next meeting.
What we catch

The things contractors count on you missing

These are the items that turn a reasonable-looking quote into a budget nightmare halfway through your project.
Missing scope
Items commonly required for your project type that aren't in the quote. These appear as change orders once the work starts — and you'll have little leverage to negotiate the price once you're mid-project.
Total price vs. scope mismatch
Most residential contractors quote a single fixed price for the entire project — which is normal. The risk is when that price doesn't reflect the full scope of work. We check whether the total makes sense for what's described.
Vague language
"As required", "by others", "TBD" — language that leaves room for interpretation. What the contractor means and what you understand can be two very different things, and the gap becomes a dispute.
Permit and code gaps
Building permits, engineering stamps, inspections, and code-triggered upgrades that your contractor hasn't included but your municipality will require.
Allowance misalignment
Allowances are common and legitimate in residential quotes — they cover items you haven't selected yet, like countertops or fixtures. The problem is when allowances don't match the quality level you're expecting. A $3K countertop allowance on a high-end kitchen is a guaranteed overage.
Contract red flags
Front-loaded payment schedules, missing warranty terms, no insurance proof, and clauses that put you at financial risk if something goes wrong.
85%
of construction projects go over budget
McKinsey / Propeller Aero
28%
average cost overrun on construction projects
70-year industry study
53%
of homeowners using contractors go over budget
Clever Real Estate, 2024
50%+
of homeowners report a negative contractor experience
GreatBuildz survey
"
After nearly two decades in construction, I've written thousands of quotes and reviewed thousands more. I know exactly how they're structured to work in the contractor's favour — vague scope, missing line items, front-loaded payments, permit costs buried or skipped entirely. Homeowners sign these quotes every day without knowing what they're agreeing to. QuoteGuard exists to change that.
Our Founder
19 years in residential construction · Licensed contractor · Canada
Thousands of quotes reviewed
Residential construction specialist
Licensed & insured contractor
Warning signs

Red flags in contractor quotes

If you see any of these in a quote, proceed with caution — or get a second opinion.
No scope description at all
Most residential contractors give a single fixed price for the whole project — that's standard. But you should still see a clear description of what's included and what's not. A number with no scope detail is a red flag.
50%+ deposit upfront
A deposit larger than 10-15% before work begins is a significant risk. Payment should follow milestones, not front-load the contractor's cash flow at your expense.
Allowances that don't match your expectations
Allowances are a normal part of residential quoting — they cover selections you haven't made yet. The red flag is when the amounts don't match the quality level you've discussed. Make sure you and your contractor agree on what tier of finishes the allowances are targeting.
No mention of permits
If your project requires building permits and the quote doesn't address them, either the contractor hasn't done their homework or the cost is being hidden.
No timeline or completion date
Without a timeline, there's no accountability. Projects without deadlines expand indefinitely — and every extra week costs you money in disruption and delays.
Verbal quote only
If a contractor won't put it in writing, you have zero recourse when the price changes. A written quote is the bare minimum. Walk away from verbal-only estimates.
Suspiciously low compared to other bids
Research consistently shows that the lowest bid often leads to the highest final cost. Contractors who underbid recover their margin through change orders once work begins.
No insurance or WCB/WSIB proof
If a worker is injured on your property and the contractor isn't covered, you could be personally liable. Always ask for proof of insurance and workers' compensation.
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Checking against Canadian construction benchmarks and standard scope requirements.
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Single Quote Review
One quote, fully reviewed
$49
one-time · CAD
  • Full scope and pricing analysis
  • Missing scope checklist
  • Total price benchmark check
  • Dollar impact per finding
  • Questions to ask your contractor
Most popular
Quote + Plans Review
Cross-reference everything
$99
one-time · CAD
  • Everything in Single Review
  • Plans vs. quote cross-check
  • Structural scope gap analysis
  • Code compliance review
  • Change order risk analysis
  • Downloadable PDF report
3-Quote Comparison
Compare before you commit
$149
one-time · CAD
  • Compare up to 3 quotes
  • Scope completeness score per bid
  • Side-by-side price outliers
  • Change order risk per contractor
  • Final recommendation
  • Downloadable PDF report
3 free findings included before purchase · No subscription · No account required
Common questions

What homeowners ask us

How do I know if my contractor quote is too high?▼
Since most residential contractors quote a single fixed price for the entire project, the best approach is to compare totals across 2-3 quotes for the same scope. If one quote is significantly higher or lower than the others, ask what's included or excluded that accounts for the difference. We check whether the total price makes sense for the scope described and flag areas where the number doesn't line up with what the project typically costs in your region.
What should be included in a contractor quote?▼
Most residential contractors in Canada provide a single fixed price for the whole project — that's normal and expected. What you should look for is a clear scope of work describing what's included, a payment schedule tied to milestones, whether permits are included and who's responsible for them, HST, warranty terms, proof of insurance and WCB/WSIB coverage, and a project timeline. Allowances for unselected finishes are also common and legitimate — just make sure the amounts align with the quality level you've discussed.
Is the lowest quote usually the best choice?▼
Rarely. Industry research shows that the lowest bid frequently leads to the highest final cost. Contractors who underbid to win the job often recover their margins through change orders once work is underway. One study found that best-value selection — choosing based on quality and completeness rather than just price — costs only about 1% more upfront but results in 37% less cost growth during construction.
How does QuoteGuard review my quote?▼
You upload your contractor quote — as a PDF, image, or pasted text — along with a brief description of your project. Our review system, built on nearly two decades of construction estimating experience, checks the scope and total price against Canadian construction benchmarks for your project type. You receive a detailed findings report with a risk score, dollar impact estimates, and the exact questions to bring to your contractor.
Is my information kept confidential?▼
Yes. We do not store your documents after your review is generated. Your quote is analyzed in real time and the content is not retained, shared with third parties, or used for any other purpose. We do not collect personally identifiable information beyond an optional email if you choose to sign up for updates.
What's a normal cost overrun on a renovation?▼
Overruns of 5 to 20 percent are considered common on residential projects. However, research across 70 years of construction data shows the average overrun is 28%, and 85% of projects fail to stay within their original budget. Most overruns come from incomplete quotes, missing scope, and vague language that leads to change orders. A thorough review before you sign is the most effective way to reduce that risk.
Can I use QuoteGuard if I already signed the contract?▼
You can, and the findings may still be valuable for negotiations or managing the project going forward. However, your leverage is strongest before you sign. We always recommend reviewing a quote before committing to a contractor.
Do you replace the need for a second contractor opinion?▼
We complement it. Getting 2-3 quotes from different contractors is still recommended. What QuoteGuard does is analyze each one in depth — finding gaps, ambiguities, and pricing issues that most homeowners wouldn't catch even when comparing quotes side by side. Think of it as bringing someone with 19 years of construction experience to read the fine print for you.
QuoteGuard is a contractor quote review service based in Canada, founded in 2025 by a licensed contractor with 19 years of residential construction experience. QuoteGuard serves homeowners across Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Services include single quote reviews, quote-and-plans cross-checks, and multi-quote comparisons for residential renovation, addition, and custom build projects. Contact: hello@quoteguard.ca. Website: quoteguard.ca.