Why quotes differ
Quotes can differ because of home size, manufacturer, options, dealer scope, transport distance, setup assumptions, foundation requirements, site conditions, financing path, and what is excluded.
Included vs excluded scope
Ask each dealer to identify what they handle, what a contractor handles, what the homeowner handles, and what still needs local office or utility confirmation.
Use one line-by-line responsibility matrix
Create rows for land, home and options, freight, delivery, setup, foundation, close-up, grading, driveway, wastewater, water, power, trades, permits, inspections, access structures, skirting, corrections, cleanup, documents, and contingency. For each quote, record included language, price state, quantity or limit, responsible party, prerequisite, completion evidence, and what happens if conditions change.
Allowances, quantities, and selection deadlines
For each allowance, record the covered item, assumed quantity and quality, labor, delivery, tax, site condition, selection date, overage method, unused credit, and whether a later choice creates a written change.
Corrections and change responsibility
Ask who pays when field conditions differ, a utility or inspector requests a correction, the home options change, delivery is delayed, or concealed work appears. Require written authorization rules rather than relying on a verbal understanding.
Keep a dated quote and change record
Save the original quote, each revision, supporting specification, written clarification, approved change, credit, receipt, and current responsibility matrix in one folder. A useful change record names the affected line, reason, amount or allowance effect, schedule effect, responsible party, approval date, and the version it replaces. This is a document-control practice, not contract interpretation.
Single-wide and double-wide questions
Single-wide and double-wide quotes can differ in delivery, marriage line work, foundation support, trim-out, utility crossover, site access, and inspection needs.
Land and setup comparison
A quote that ignores land readiness can be misleading. Septic, well, power, driveway, grading, permits, and inspections may decide which quote is realistic.
Financing assumptions
Ask whether financing includes only the home, home plus land, or site-work categories. Lender requirements can change what must be complete before closing or occupancy.
Find markup and duplicate scope without declaring a price unfair
Ask which line contains coordination, overhead, subcontracted work, delivery, tax, permit, contingency, or another named component. Then check whether the same work appears in another dealer, installer, trade, site, utility, or homeowner scope. A difference is a clarification question, not proof of improper pricing or savings.
Compare the signing and completion evidence
Check the exact quote version, expiration, home and site, included documents, conditions, deposits, milestones, approvals for changes, receipts, inspection records, punch-list ownership, warranties, manuals, releases, and other completion records. Use qualified legal advice for the actual agreement.
Compare the same document package
For each bid, keep the current quote, attachments, home specifications, site assumptions, allowances, exclusions, responsibility list, payment schedule, change terms, warranty information, and closeout requirements together. Mark the current version and preserve prior revisions so a lower total is not compared against a different project definition.
Use task-level evidence for duplicate-scope questions
Match the actual task, location, quantity, material, included labor, equipment, coordination, permit, tax, freight, performer, schedule stage, correction responsibility, and completion record across dealer, installer, site, utility, trade, and homeowner scopes. Repeated terminology alone does not prove duplicate work or an improper charge.
Compare warranty and closeout records
Ask which party provides inspection and correction records, manufacturer and installer information, manuals, written warranties, provider contacts, approved changes, releases when applicable, and the final unresolved-item list. The matrix organizes evidence but does not approve an agreement or decide liability.
Send only the current, comparable bid package for review
Identify the current version of each bid and include its attachments, home specifications, site assumptions, allowances, exclusions, responsibilities, milestone terms, changes, warranty information, and promised closeout records. Review My Quote can organize mismatched or unresolved scope; it does not rank providers, declare a winner, approve a contract, or guarantee a lower cost.
Use one complete responsibility row
For each material category, capture: work and location; specification; quantity or limit; status; contracting party; performing or supplying party; prerequisite; price, unit, or allowance basis; selection deadline; change trigger and authorization path; inspection, correction, or warranty contact when relevant; and completion evidence. A blank cell is an unresolved question, not proof that another party owns the work.
Reconcile allowances to selections and actual documents
Keep the starting allowance, included assumptions, selection deadline, selected item and specification, supported actual amount, delivery and labor treatment, overage or credit method, approval, invoice or provider record, and revised quote row together. Do not treat an allowance label or invoice alone as contract interpretation, payment direction, or proof of completion.
Build the change packet before relying on the new total
A useful packet identifies the current agreement and affected row, reason and evidence, replacement scope, amount or calculation method, allowance or credit effect, responsible and performing parties, dependencies, schedule and inspection effects, owner-supplied consequences, approval record, and every revised attachment. Preserve superseded versions for comparison.
