Comparing Kitchen Remodel Scopes: A Line-by-Line Method

Start with a shared scope sheet

Give every bidder the same room measurements, drawing, appliance list, cabinet plan, and finish schedule. Mark what is removed, what stays, and whether the sink, range, walls, or openings move. Ask contractors to list assumptions where plans are incomplete.

Use the sheet to compare demolition and disposal, framing, plumbing, electrical, ventilation, drywall, cabinets, counters, backsplash, flooring, painting, and finish carpentry. A blank category is a question to resolve, not proof that the work is included.

Interrogate allowances and supply responsibilities

An allowance is a placeholder for a selection or quantity, not a confirmed final product price. Ask what it includes—product alone or delivery and installation as well—and how substitutions, tax, and changes are handled. Record model numbers and finishes to keep bids aligned.

Identify owner-supplied items, delivery dates, storage, damage checks, and responsibility for missing parts. Ask who measures for counters and schedules templating, and how installation timing depends on cabinets or other trades.

• Mark each line as contractor-supplied, owner-supplied, or undecided.
• Ask for exclusions and alternates to be listed explicitly.

Compare delivery and change terms

Review permits, protection, cleanup, site access, schedule, payment milestones, warranties, and the written change-order process. Ask how the contractor will address concealed damage discovered during demolition and whether work stops until you approve the added scope.

A useful comparison can show exactly where proposals differ and which questions remain open. Request revisions when a bidder has misunderstood the plan, and keep the final scope and selection schedule attached to the signed agreement.