With online roof bids, the work is described in writing once, and each contractor who bids sends a written bid on that same description. You compare the bids on a screen and decide on your own schedule, with no salesperson at your kitchen table. Otter Quotes is one place to do this. This guide explains each step and what to check.
What is an online roof bid?
An online roof bid is a written price for a described roofing job, sent by a contractor through a website instead of presented at your table. On a site that works from a shared scope of work, the homeowner and each contractor work from the same written description, and the bid states the materials, the price and the terms in writing.
In a bid from a salesperson, the contractor visits, looks over the job and presents a price in person. In an online bid, you read the price and the terms yourself, compare them with other bids and decide when you are ready.
How do online roof bids work, step by step?
Online bidding on a shared scope of work follows five steps. The job is described in a written scope of work. The scope goes to several contractors. Contractors who choose to bid send a bid on the same scope. You compare the bids side by side. You choose one contractor and sign online.
At Otter Quotes, those steps are grouped into four:
- The scope of work. Otter Quotes creates a written scope of work for your project. You can provide a copy of your insurance estimate, or have professional measurements made.
- The bids. We send the scope of work to multiple contractors, who compete online with bids on the same work. Subcontractors bid too.
- The comparison. You compare the bids online, next to reviews and licensing information.
- The signing. You sign online, without a salesperson in your home.
What should an online bid include?
A bid is only as useful as what it says in writing. The FTC says a written estimate should include a description of the work to be done, the materials, a completion date, the price and the contractor's contact information (FTC). Put each bid beside the others and check the same items in each.
| Item | What to look for in the bid |
|---|---|
| The work | A description that matches the scope of work you were given, line by line. |
| Materials | The product and the grade named, not just a category. |
| Warranty | Who stands behind it, what it covers and for how long, in writing. |
| Schedule | An estimated start date and completion date. |
| Price and payments | The total and a payment schedule, with the amount due before work starts. |
| Contractor details | Name, address, phone and license number, if one is required. |
Our side-by-side roof bid worksheet turns this into a table you can fill in.
What do I give up without a salesperson?
No salesperson walks you through the bid in your living room. You read each bid yourself, next to the others, and if you want help understanding what you were offered, Otter Quotes will talk it through with you on request. Write down every question before you sign and get each answer in writing.
Questions to copy:
- Could the price change after work starts, and what would cause it?
- Is anything in the scope of work not in your bid?
- Who will do the work, your own crew or a subcontractor?
- Which materials and which warranty does the bid name?
- What is the payment schedule?
How do I check the contractor behind a bid?
The FTC says to confirm a contractor's license with your state or county government, ask for proof of insurance and look up what others say about the contractor (FTC). IBHS, a nonprofit research group, advises choosing a reputable, bonded and insured roofing contractor (IBHS).
On Otter Quotes, reviews and licensing information sit next to the bids, so you can read them in the same place. Our guide on how to choose a contractor for insurance repairs has a longer checklist.
Can I use online bids if I have an insurance estimate?
Yes. You can provide a copy of your insurance estimate when you start, or you can start without one. Otter Quotes does not work with your insurance company and does not negotiate claims, so questions about your claim go to your insurer.
Our guides on what to do after the adjuster's estimate and on whether to show a contractor the estimate cover the document itself.
Where Otter Quotes fits
Otter Quotes creates a written scope of work for your project and sends it to multiple contractors. Every bid is on the same scope and the same measurements. You compare the bids online, next to reviews and licensing information, and sign online without a salesperson in your home. Subcontractors bid too, so you may be able to work directly with the crew that does the work. We are not a contractor, we do not sell upgrades, and we do not offer inspections. Contractors pay Otter Quotes a fee on the accepted bid.
Frequently asked questions
What is an online roof bid?
An online roof bid is a written price for a described roofing job, sent by a contractor through a website. When the bid is based on a shared written scope of work, every contractor prices the same job, and you compare the bids and sign online instead of meeting a salesperson at home.
How is an online bid different from a bid from a salesperson at my door?
With an online bid you read the price and terms in writing and compare them with other bids on your own schedule. With a salesperson, the price is presented in person. Either way, the FTC advises getting estimates from more than one contractor, and IBHS advises being wary of unsolicited offers to inspect or repair your roof.
Can I compare several contractors without meeting each one?
On Otter Quotes, we send your scope of work to multiple contractors, who compete online with bids on the same work. You compare the bids online, next to reviews and licensing information, and you sign online. You decide which contractor to choose.
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 pays an upfront charge of as little as $15 for professional measurements, refunded if they complete a job on the platform. Contractors pay Otter Quotes a fee on the accepted bid.
What does Otter Quotes not do?
We do not work with your insurance company or negotiate claims. Otter Quotes is not a contractor, does not sell upgrades and does not offer inspections. We create the written scope of work, send it to contractors and give you one place to compare their bids.
Sources
- Federal Trade Commission, “How To Avoid Scams After Weather Emergencies and Natural Disasters”: what a written estimate should include, checking a license and insurance, and getting estimates from more than one contractor.
- Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, “Is It Hail Damage?” brochure: choosing a reputable, bonded and insured roofing contractor and being wary of unsolicited offers to inspect or repair a roof.