ScopeGrade
The Journal
Quotes, scope and pricing — explained plainly, for the people hiring and the people building.
Homeowner guides · 2 min read
How to compare contractor quotes fairly
Comparing totals only works when the quotes describe the same job. Here's how to line them up scope-first, so the price difference means something.
Latest
Project planning · 2 min read
How accurate do your measurements need to be before getting a quote?
Accurate enough to describe the job — not accurate enough to build it. Here's where a homeowner's tape measure helps, where it doesn't, and what contractors actually do with your numbers.
Estimates & pricing · 2 min read
What should be included in a landscaping quote?
A good landscaping quote tells you exactly what will be built, from what, by when — and what isn't included. Here's the checklist, line by line.
Estimates & pricing · 1 min read
Estimate vs quote: what's the difference?
Contractors use the words differently, so the label matters less than one question: is this number firm, and what would change it?
Estimates & pricing · 1 min read
Fixed price vs allowance: what homeowners should know
Allowances are the most common source of “surprise” costs — and also the fairest way to price things nobody can see yet. Here's how to read them.
Learn it hands-on
All tutorialsMeasure & plan4 min
How to measure your yard or project area for a contractor
Give contractors the measurements, access details and photos they need to understand your project before they visit.
Photos & documentation3 min
How to take photos a contractor can actually use
Six wide, well-placed photos that show the whole job — so a contractor can see what they're pricing.
Permits, property & access3 min
How to show a contractor the access to your backyard
Measure and photograph the route into your yard, so a contractor knows how materials and equipment will get there.
For homeowners
Project planning · 2 min read
How accurate do your measurements need to be before getting a quote?
Accurate enough to describe the job — not accurate enough to build it. Here's where a homeowner's tape measure helps, where it doesn't, and what contractors actually do with your numbers.
Estimates & pricing · 2 min read
What should be included in a landscaping quote?
A good landscaping quote tells you exactly what will be built, from what, by when — and what isn't included. Here's the checklist, line by line.
Estimates & pricing · 1 min read
Estimate vs quote: what's the difference?
Contractors use the words differently, so the label matters less than one question: is this number firm, and what would change it?
Estimates & pricing · 1 min read
Fixed price vs allowance: what homeowners should know
Allowances are the most common source of “surprise” costs — and also the fairest way to price things nobody can see yet. Here's how to read them.
For contractors
Estimates & pricing · 1 min read
Estimate vs quote: what's the difference?
Contractors use the words differently, so the label matters less than one question: is this number firm, and what would change it?
Contractor guides · 1 min read
How much detail should a contractor estimate include?
Enough that a homeowner can picture the finished job and compare you fairly — without turning your pricing into a shopping list for the next contractor.