A single referral gives you one contractor someone already trusts. Competitive bids give you several written prices to compare on the same work. A referral is faster and comes with a person's word; bids show you what the job costs from more than one contractor. You can use both, by asking the referred contractor to bid alongside others.
What do you learn from a single referral?
You learn how one contractor treated someone you know, on that person's job. That is real information, especially about communication and cleanup. It does not tell you how the price compares, or whether the scope of work is the same as what another contractor would propose.
What do you learn from comparing bids?
Written bids on the same scope let you see differences you cannot see with one price: what is included, which materials are named, what the warranty says, and how the payment schedule works. The lowest number is not automatically the best bid. Comparison shows you what to ask about.
What does comparing bids cost you?
Time, mainly. You read more and decide more. If contractors each write their own scope, you may also have to work out whether they are pricing the same job. That is why a shared written scope helps.
When does a referral still make sense?
A referral makes sense when you already trust the person making it, you have checked the contractor's license where your state requires one, and you are comfortable with the price after reading a written estimate. It also makes sense when timing matters more than comparing.
How can I use both?
Ask the referred contractor for a written bid on the same scope as the others, and check every contractor the same way: license where required, insurance, reviews and warranty terms. The referral then becomes one good reason among several, not the only one.
Where Otter Quotes fits
Otter Quotes creates a written scope of work for your project and sends it to multiple contractors. You compare any written bids you receive and sign online, with no salesperson in your home. A contract you sign is between you and the contractor.
Frequently asked questions
Is the lowest roof bid the best one?
Not automatically. A lower price can reflect a smaller scope, different materials or a shorter warranty. Compare what each bid includes before you compare totals.
Can a referred contractor bid along with others?
Yes. Ask for a written bid on the same scope as the others, so you are comparing the same work.
How many bids should I get?
There is no required number. More than one written bid gives you something to compare, and the right number depends on how much time you want to spend.
What does Otter Quotes cost a homeowner?
On Otter Quotes, there is no cost for homeowners who provide a copy of their insurance estimate. A homeowner without one who orders measurements from us pays as little as $22.63 up front, rebated in full if a job is completed through the platform; conditions apply.
What does Otter Quotes not do?
We do not work with your insurance company or negotiate claims. Otter Quotes is not a contractor.