Put proposals into one table. Differences in scope, allowances and exclusions often matter more than the first total at the bottom.
01 / RENOVATION CHECK
Issue the same information to every bidder
Provide the measured room plan, photographs, desired outcomes, demolition and protection limits, fixture locations, finish level, owner-supplied items, known conditions, strata rules, approval status, access constraints and target decision date. State what is verified and what remains unknown. Invite bidders to inspect the property and list any information they still need. A common package prevents one proposal from pricing a detailed room while another prices an assumed empty shell. Ask each bidder to name who prepares the measured scope, who reviews or submits the strata package, and which outstanding approvals or selections prevent a firm construction quote. Confirm whether design or investigation is a separate engagement before accepting the proposal.
02 / RENOVATION CHECK
Build a line-by-line scope table
Create rows for project management, protection, demolition, disposal, investigation, repairs, framing, plumbing, electrical, ventilation, heating, substrates, waterproofing, tile, cabinetry, counters, glass, fixtures, paint, accessories, cleanup and closeout. Add columns for each proposal, inclusion, allowance, exclusion and clarification. Do not force unlike scopes into a false comparison; highlight the difference and ask the bidder to revise or explain it in writing.
03 / RENOVATION CHECK
Separate materials, labour and allowances
For every allowance, record the product category, amount, whether it includes tax, delivery, waste, installation materials and labour, and how overages or credits are calculated. Identify products selected by model and those still provisional. A fixture allowance may not include valves, rough-in changes, installation or repair around it. Ask when selections must be final and who checks dimensions, compatibility, lead time and condition on delivery.
04 / RENOVATION CHECK
Compare preparation and concealed work
Look for explicit demolition boundaries, substrate assessment, repair assumptions, plumbing and electrical rough-ins, ventilation path, waterproofing components, penetrations, transitions, inspections and concealed-work photographs. A quote that lists tile installation without the layers beneath it may not be comparable to one that defines the full assembly. Ask how hidden damage, hazardous materials or unsuitable conditions are reported and priced before dependent work continues.
05 / RENOVATION CHECK
Expose exclusions and owner responsibilities
Request a plain list covering permits, drawings, strata fees or deposits, professional review, hazardous-material assessment, parking, elevator booking, power, water, heating, storage, protection, fixtures, finishes, delivery, waste, final cleaning and temporary facilities. Confirm who obtains and pays for each item. An omission is not automatically included, and an owner-supplied item can still create labour, warranty or schedule responsibilities that need a written boundary.
06 / RENOVATION CHECK
Review changes and payment terms
Ask how changes are described, priced, approved and scheduled before work proceeds. Identify markup, labour rates, unit prices or allowances where relevant and require written authorization from the appropriate party. Read deposit, progress and final-payment terms together with completion definitions, deficiency handling and applicable legal requirements. Do not accept a payment schedule that is disconnected from clear milestones or records. Legal and lien questions require appropriate professional advice.
07 / RENOVATION CHECK
Compare schedule assumptions, not just dates
Break the timeline into approvals, ordering, protection, demolition, investigation, repairs, rough-ins, inspections, waterproofing, finishes, fixture installation, glass, deficiencies and closeout. Record work hours, building access, water shutdowns, lead times and owner decisions that affect each phase. Ask what happens when hidden conditions, inspection timing or a late product changes the sequence. A start or finish date without assumptions is not a reliable basis for comparison.
08 / RENOVATION CHECK
Score completeness and evidence
Review whether each proposal identifies the actual property, full scope, products or allowances, trade work, approvals, protection, quality checks, change process, schedule assumptions, exclusions, closeout and warranty conditions. Request clarification in writing and update the comparison rather than filling blanks with your own assumption. Price remains important, but the most useful decision shows what each total buys, which risks remain and who is accountable for resolving them.
These official sources provide municipal, legal or workplace-safety context for the subjects they address. They do not approve this property, determine hidden conditions or replace current property-specific review.
City of Vancouver — Renovate a Home · BC Laws — Strata Property Act · WorkSafeBC — Asbestos in Renovation
Sources reviewed September 22, 2026. Confirm the current page, property facts and proposed work before making a permit, strata or construction decision.