Compare the included work before comparing the total. Put each proposal on the same basis: opening, exact window, well, drainage, approvals, protection and restoration. Mark assumptions and allowances explicitly. A quote with unresolved scope is not directly comparable to one that includes that work, even when both are labeled “egress-window installation.”
This worksheet is an original planning framework. It uses prices supplied by your bidders; it does not claim a surveyed Kansas City average or provide an installation estimate.
Step 1: give every bidder the same brief
Prepare one description with the property address, municipality, intended use, known conditions, photographs and desired outcome. If the project is a new bedroom, say so. If you only want replacement of an existing unit, state whether you also want the well or interior trim evaluated.
Keep preferences separate from requirements that are already confirmed. You may prefer a particular cover or window style, while the final unit and opening remain subject to the assessment. Tell bidders which items are flexible so you can compare alternatives without obscuring the base scope.
Step 2: record the scope line by line
Use one column per bidder. For each row, write included, excluded, allowance, optional or unresolved. Put a dollar amount beside a category only when the bidder supplies one or a written estimate for that missing work is available.
| Scope row | Information to record |
|---|---|
| Assessment and design | Site visit, measurements, required drawings and professional review |
| Permit and inspections | Responsible applicant, fees included, inspection coordination |
| Utility locating | Who arranges required notices and confirms responses before digging |
| Access and excavation | Equipment access, obstructions, soil/debris handling |
| Foundation opening | Location, proposed dimensions, assumptions and included alteration |
| Window | Exact manufacturer/model, hardware and clear-opening information |
| Well/access/cover | Model, dimensions, access arrangement and cover |
| Drainage | Connection or discharge scope and investigation of existing components |
| Weather and interior protection | Protection during work and who is responsible |
| Restoration | Trim, drywall, paint, siding, grading and landscaping boundaries |
| Warranty and service | Written product/installation terms and point of contact |
| Change orders | Conditions, documentation and authorization process |
The utility-locating row is a responsibility check, not a substitute for the relevant state’s process. 811 instructs homeowners to confirm that locating is arranged and that required responses are received before digging. 811 guidance.
Step 3: distinguish exclusions from allowances
An exclusion means work is outside the quoted scope. An allowance is an amount set aside for a specified item under stated assumptions. An optional item is a separately priced choice. An unresolved item has not yet been defined enough for a reliable comparison. Ask the bidder to clarify ambiguous labels in writing.
For example, “drainage allowance” is not useful unless the proposal explains the assumed work, the included amount, and how the final cost changes if conditions differ. “Drainage excluded” is clearer, but it leaves you needing a scope and price from whoever will perform that work. Neither label is automatically unacceptable; they require different follow-up.
Use the same approach for finishing. A homeowner planning to paint can accept a painting exclusion knowingly. A homeowner expecting a fully restored room needs to account for it. The comparison should reflect the outcome you actually want.
Step 4: normalize only the costs you can support
Here is a hypothetical arithmetic example, not local price guidance. Bid A is $6,000 and excludes interior restoration. A separate written restoration quote is $900. Bid B is $6,700 and includes the same restoration scope. On that one documented difference, the comparison is $6,900 versus $6,700. Other product, drainage, warranty and scope differences still need review.
Do not fill in an unknown cost with zero or a guessed market figure. Mark it unresolved. A comparison total is useful only when its inputs are visible. If a bidder offers an allowance, preserve that label beside the total rather than quietly treating it as a fixed price.
Write the calculation in a reproducible way: quoted base amount, supported additions, documented deductions and remaining allowances. This makes it possible to update the comparison after a clarification without losing track of what changed.
Step 5: compare the proposed outcome
Price is one part of a decision that also includes scope clarity and responsibility. Compare the exact products, the explanations of unknown conditions, the written warranty terms and the plan for completing approvals and restoration. Ask questions when two scopes differ; a difference can be intentional and useful.
For a replacement, review the replacement scope so the new configuration is clearly identified. For enlargement, review opening-alteration questions. For a wet well, use the well and drainage checklist to understand the investigation and proposed remedy.
Questions to send back before accepting a quote
- Which opening and exact window configuration does this price cover?
- Which permit, review and inspection responsibilities are included?
- What does the drainage line item assume about the existing house?
- What work is priced only as an allowance or excluded entirely?
- What interior and exterior surfaces will be restored?
- How will a changed condition be documented and priced?
- Which completion documents and operating instructions will I receive?
Keep the clarified proposal and relevant correspondence with the final agreement. For the full planning sequence, return to the Kansas City egress-window guide or start with new installation.