Prepared by The Hammer Mill · Sources checked September 2026 · Editorial approach
Comparing siding bids is a scope exercise before it is a price exercise. A total can be accurate for what one contractor included and still be unsuitable for comparison with another proposal. Use a shared project packet and a clarification register to make the differences visible.
Begin with the same information
Give each bidder the same property description, condition findings, drawings, building identifiers, proposed material options and access constraints. Date the packet and number any revisions. If one bidder discovers a detail that affects the work, distribute the clarification consistently.
A good comparison process avoids rewarding a bidder for leaving out an item that another contractor identified. It also avoids assuming the higher bid is automatically more complete. The documents must show the difference.
Five questions for every proposal
- Which buildings, elevations and existing layers are included?
- Which details and repairs are specified, allowed for or excluded?
- Which quantities can change, and how will they be measured?
- Who obtains approvals and coordinates access, notices and inspections?
- What is delivered at handover, and what remains the owner’s responsibility?
Use the answers to build a common scope schedule. Do not silently translate “as needed” into an unlimited inclusion.
Understand allowances and unit rates
An allowance should state what it covers and how it is reconciled. A unit rate should name the measurement unit and the included labor, materials, disposal, overhead and access. Ask whether unused allowances create credits and how work beyond an allowance is authorized.
Keep optional work separate. A material alternate may replace the base product rather than add to it. Adding both prices can double count work. Similarly, a phased proposal needs to explain repeated mobilization and temporary interfaces instead of merely dividing a total into installments.
| Proposal term | Clarification to obtain |
|---|---|
| “Rot repair included” | Where, how much, and which repair types? |
| “Permit by owner” | Which permit, what supporting work, and who coordinates inspections? |
| “Lifetime warranty” | Whose warranty, covered items, exclusions and claim process? |
| “Complete replacement” | What retained layers or components are outside the scope? |
| “Weather permitting” | How are delays communicated and exposed work managed? |
Evaluate the response, not just the formatting
A concise written clarification that resolves an uncertainty is more useful than a glossy proposal that avoids it. Ask the contractor to reference the relevant drawing, building or scope item so the answer can become part of the final project documents.
If an issue cannot be priced reliably without investigation, identify that investigation as a separate decision. Do not manufacture a precise contingency and call the uncertainty resolved. A board should understand what it is authorizing and what information is still missing.
Document why a proposal was selected
A selection memo should name the accepted scope revision, proposals considered, clarified exclusions, selected alternates and remaining assumptions. State the actual reason for the choice: price for the same scope, relevant experience, documentation quality, access plan, schedule or another supported factor.
Before signing, reconcile the proposal, specifications, clarifications and contract. Contradictory documents can undo the clarity gained during bidding. Use an appropriate adviser to review contract terms and risk allocation.
FAQ
Is the cheapest bid necessarily incomplete?
No. A contractor may have a more efficient approach. The comparison process should reveal what is included and whether the proposed method meets the scope.
Should we require three bids?
Use the procurement requirements applicable to your property or association. The number of bids alone does not ensure comparability; the shared scope and responses matter.
Can a unit price eliminate change orders?
No. A defined rate can simplify pricing for an agreed item, but the quantity, authorization and technical remedy still need to be documented.
Use the complete worksheet
Open the line-by-line comparison worksheet and multifamily planning guide. Send your project details with the main differences you are trying to understand. Avoid sending sensitive insurance or financial documents through the initial form.