Buyer Beware
5 Red Flags in Contractor Bids
Five warning signs that a construction bid is padded, incomplete, or likely to explode into change orders later.
1. Too vague to compare
If the proposal uses phrases like “install as needed” or “allowance TBD,” you are not buying clarity—you are buying future arguments.
2. Unrealistically low totals
The lowest number is often low because something is missing. That “missing something” tends to come back as a change order once demolition starts.
3. Heavy reliance on allowances
Allowances are not automatically bad, but too many of them mean the contractor has not pinned down real pricing. That shifts risk onto you.
4. No permit or code language
In Florida, permit and code issues are not optional. If a bid skips them, it may not reflect the real cost of doing the job correctly.
5. Cleanup and closeout are missing
Debris hauling, punch work, reinstallation, and final inspections are the boring details that often get omitted. They still have to happen, and someone still has to pay for them.