Three quotes come in. Two are within 10% of each other. The third is 30% lower. Tempting — but the math never works out the way you hope.
Here's what's actually getting cut to hit that lowball number, and what the long-term cost ends up being.
Red flag #1: No permits
Easiest cost to hide. A $400 building permit + $150 ESA permit + $100 plumbing permit = $650 the lowball contractor leaves out. They tell you "we don't really need one for this" and you trust them because it sounds like inside knowledge.
What it costs you: 5 years later when you sell, the home inspection flags unpermitted electrical. Lawyer holds back $5,000. You spend $3,000 bringing it to code retroactively. Net loss vs the original $650: $7,000+.
We pull every permit on every kitchen, bathroom, deck, and basement project. It's never a line item — it's baked into the price.
Red flag #2: Skipped waterproofing in bathrooms
A proper Schluter Kerdi or RedGard waterproof membrane behind every tiled surface costs about $1,500 in materials and 2 days of labour. Skipping it saves the contractor about $2,500.
What it costs you: tiled showers leak through the substrate by year 3. You're tearing out the new bathroom and replacing the bathroom below it (if it's a second-floor bath). $15,000-$25,000 to redo.
The skipped-waterproof bathroom is the #1 callback in the industry. The contractor is long gone with their cheque cashed.
Red flag #3: "I'll use the existing electrical / plumbing"
Older Toronto, Etobicoke, and Scarborough houses have aluminum wiring, knob-and-tube, or galvanized plumbing. A real renovation upgrades these as it goes — there's no point putting a new $60K kitchen on top of a 60-amp panel that can't run a dishwasher and induction range.
The lowball contractor says "we'll keep the existing." They paint the box, install the cabinets, and leave. You spend $4,500 the next year when a circuit trips every time you run the toaster.
We test electrical panels, plumbing pressure, and aluminum-wiring presence on every project scope. If you need an upgrade, we tell you upfront — and it's in the quoted price, not a surprise.
Red flag #4: No written change-order process
The lowball quote isn't actually a quote. It's an opening number designed to win the bid and then ratchet up via "change orders" — every surprise that wasn't in the original scope becomes a $500-$2,000 invoice line.
By the end of a kitchen reno, the lowball contractor's $35K original is $50K. The "expensive" $44K quote that included everything would have saved you $6K.
Our quotes include written change-order policies: anything outside the original scope gets documented in writing with cost + timeline impact + your signature before work proceeds. No surprise bills.
Red flag #5: No insurance certificates upfront
If a contractor can't show you proof of insurance on day one of the engagement, they're either uninsured or carrying minimal coverage. Either way, you're holding the risk if a worker is injured on your property.
Ontario contractors should carry $2M+ general liability and full WSIB. We carry $5M and provide certificates as part of contract signing. Any contractor who hesitates when you ask is telling you something important.
How to actually compare three quotes
1. Put every contractor on the same scope. If one quote excludes electrical permits, add the permit cost to that quote before comparing 2. Ask each contractor what's NOT included — listen for the gaps 3. Compare written change-order policies — vague answers = unlimited future cost 4. Verify insurance + WSIB before contract signing 5. Reference-check 2 recent projects — call past clients and ask "did the final invoice match the quote?"
After running this checklist, the cheapest quote is rarely the lowest cost over the project. The middle quote almost always wins.
Our quotes are usually the middle number. We're not the cheapest. We are the last contractor you'll need to hire for this room.
Use the quote calculator below for a real range on your specific project — 3 questions, real GTA pricing.