BidBud Estimating

Compare a contractor's quoted price with BidBud's likely range for the same scope. Prices the scope at economy, mid-range and premium quality and judges the quote against the likely range (confidence band) of the quality level being compared. Verdicts: "low" (below the range: ask what is excluded), "fair", "high" (above the range but within premium pricing) and "very_high" (above even the premium range). When to use: a homeowner has a contractor's price and asks whether it is reasonable. Limits: judges the price only, not the contractor, workmanship or exact materials; US residential homes only; a planning comparison, not an appraisal or a bid. Args: quoted_price: The contractor's total price in USD for the listed services. home_sqft: Finished square footage of the home. num_rooms: Number of rooms. services: The services the quote covers. quality_tier: Quality level the quote is for: "economy", "medium" (mid-range, default) or "high" (premium). zip_code: US ZIP code of the property, for regional labor pricing. state: Two-letter state code, used when the ZIP is unknown. stories: Above-grade stories (1, 1.5, 2 or 3; default 1). flooring_type: For flooring quotes: carpet, tile, vinyl, hardwood or mix. num_windows: For window quotes: number of windows being replaced. roof_pitch: Roof slope if known: low, standard, steep or very_steep. roof_shape: gable, hip or complex. home_type: detached, townhouse_end, townhouse_middle or condo. year_built: Year the home was built (before 1978 adds lead-safe work practices).

Price the same project at economy, mid-range and premium quality side by side. When to use: the homeowner asks "what's the difference between a basic and a high-end job?" or wants to choose a budget level. Limits: US residential homes only; tiers reflect typical materials and labor at each level, not specific products or brands; planning estimates, not bids. Args: home_sqft: Finished square footage of the home (200-20000). num_rooms: Number of rooms (1-50). services: Services to price, e.g. ["flooring", "painting"]. zip_code: 5-digit US ZIP code of the property, for regional labor pricing. state: Two-letter state code, used when the ZIP is unknown. stories: Above-grade stories (1, 1.5, 2 or 3; default 1). flooring_type: For flooring only: carpet, tile, vinyl, hardwood or mix. num_windows: For windows only: actual window count, if known. include_permits: Add estimated permit fees. include_contingency: Add a 10% contingency allowance. Returns the total for each tier, a per-service breakdown for each tier, and each service's totals across the three tiers.

Estimate the cost of one or more home-improvement services for a US home. When to use: the homeowner wants to know what a job should cost, for example before asking contractors for bids. Limits: US residential homes only, one property per call. A planning estimate from national cost data with metro-area or state labor rates, not a bid; actual prices depend on the site, the scope and the local market. Args: home_sqft: Finished square footage of the home (200-20000). num_rooms: Number of rooms (1-50). Used to derive wall area. services: Services to price, e.g. ["painting", "roofing"]. quality_tier: "economy", "medium" (mid-range) or "high" (premium). zip_code: 5-digit US ZIP code of the property. Applies metro-area (or state) labor-rate adjustments; strongly recommended. state: Two-letter state code, used when the ZIP is unknown. stories: Above-grade stories (1, 1.5, 2 or 3; default 1). Drives roof area, siding area and gutter length for exterior services. flooring_type: For flooring only: carpet, tile, vinyl, hardwood or mix. num_windows: For windows only: actual window count, if known. ceiling_height_ft: Override the default 8.5 ft ceiling height. roof_sqft: Override the roof area derived from home size. include_permits: Add estimated permit fees as separate lines. include_contingency: Add a 10% contingency line for conditions found on site. include_line_items: Include itemized quantities and unit costs. roof_pitch: Roof slope if known: low, standard, steep or very_steep. Steep roofs add area and a steep-slope labor surcharge. roof_shape: gable, hip or complex; sets the gutter/eave length. home_type: detached, townhouse_end, townhouse_middle or condo; shared walls reduce siding, trim and gutters (condo exteriors are flagged as usually the HOA's responsibility). year_built: Year the home was built. Before 1978 adds EPA lead-safe (RRP) work practices to painting, windows and drywall. Each property detail you pass narrows the likely range for the services it affects. Returns totals per service, a confidence range, the main assumptions, and questions to ask the homeowner that would tighten the estimate.

Say whether each service typically needs a building permit, with typical fees, and (when a state is given) the state's building code, code authority and contractor licensing resources. When to use: the homeowner asks whether a job needs a permit, or how to check a contractor's license in their state. Limits: typical requirements only; local rules vary, so confirm with the local building department. General guidance, not legal advice. Args: services: Services being planned, e.g. ["roofing", "electrical"]. state: Two-letter US state code, e.g. "PA".

List the home-improvement services BidBud can estimate, the quality tiers, accepted input ranges, and which services get metro-area or state labor pricing. When to use: first, when unsure whether a job is supported or which details to ask the homeowner for. Limits: US residential homes only; only the services listed here.