Know what your quote leaves out.
Paste a contractor’s quote. We tell you what it does not say, what it excludes on purpose, and the exact questions to ask before you sign. No price data needed.
Why quotes vary so much
The cheap bid that turns expensive is almost never cheaper work. It is less work — the permit left out, the old equipment you now have to dispose of, the “existing ductwork is fine” assumption that fails at inspection. Two quotes are not comparable until the same things are in both of them.
That is a document problem, not a pricing problem, and it is what we check first.
What we look for
Things that are missing
Permit, disposal, load calculation, labor warranty, commissioning, payment terms — each one is money that lands on you later if it is not in writing now.
Things excluded on purpose
A line reading “NOT INCLUDED: permit” is not the same as silence. It is a known cost, priced out deliberately, and a bid that includes it is not more expensive — it is more complete.
Things that are not true where you live
Efficiency minimums, refrigerant rules, deposit limits and warranty registration all change by state. A 50% deposit is lawful in Arizona and a misdemeanor in California. We check yours, not a national average.
Pressure that does not survive checking
“R‑410A is being banned, lock this in now” is the most common close in this trade right now. EPA removed that deadline in May 2026. The phase‑down is real; the urgency is not.
What we will not do
We do not tell you a contractor is cheating you. We cannot know that, and a wrong accusation costs you more than a missed one. We tell you what the document says, what it omits, and what to ask. Where we could not read something clearly, we say so instead of guessing.
Today CasaClerk covers HVAC replacement. Plumbing, roofing, electrical, pest and windows are next.