Comparing builder estimates? Read the scope before the total.

Give each team the same starting information

Record the drawing revision, specifications, property information and selections each proposal uses. A detailed proposal and an early budget based on a concept sketch are different levels of information. Neither becomes comparable simply because both end with a dollar figure.

For example, one proposal might assume standard windows while another includes larger custom openings and the associated structural work. Resolve that difference before treating the price gap as a difference in builder efficiency.

Define the square footage and what its price includes

Ask what area was used for the calculation. Conditioned living space, unfinished basements, garages and decks should not be blended into one denominator without explanation. Otherwise, a lower cost per square foot may reflect a different area calculation.

Hudson’s new-home guide includes project management within the home construction rate. Site development, design and exterior features are separate. Use the same categories when comparing a different proposal.

Separate the house from the site

List access, excavation, drainage, wastewater, water supply and utility work explicitly. Check which items are priced, estimated or excluded, and what information supports them. Unknown subsurface conditions deserve particular attention.

A single site allowance can be useful early, but it should not disappear into a headline construction number. Ask what additional investigation would make that allowance more reliable.

Understand allowances and selections

An allowance is only helpful if you know what it covers. Ask whether a figure includes materials, labor, delivery and related work, and how a difference from the allowance will be handled. Confirm the specifications behind phrases such as premium finishes.

Compare the selection schedule as well as the amount. A late choice can affect procurement and installation even if the selected product fits the budget.

Identify who manages the work

Ask who coordinates trades, checks readiness, manages purchasing, communicates decisions and leads the crew on site. Confirm whether those responsibilities are included in the proposed cost.

Hudson connects design, preconstruction, project management and site supervision. Understanding those responsibilities helps you compare the service behind the finished home, not only the materials in it.

Make exclusions visible

Create a separate list for design, permits, site work, garages, decks, landscaping, solar, furnishings and any owner purchases. Different projects and agreements place these costs in different categories. The useful total is the whole investment, with each item counted once.

If an owner is supplying a product, confirm who measures, orders, receives, stores and installs it, and who resolves a missing or damaged component. A purchase price does not describe all of that work.

Distinguish an estimate from a contracted price

Ask whether you are reviewing a planning range, an estimate, an allowance or a fixed price for defined work. Then read the applicable payment terms, conditions and change process.

Hudson uses a fixed price Construction Agreement with phased payments. The agreement defines the base scope, price, allowances and exclusions before production begins. Our fixed price and time and materials guide explains how that differs from a planning estimate and how we coordinate with lenders.

Ask how changes and uncertainty will be handled

Before choosing a team, ask how a proposed change is documented, priced and approved, and how schedule implications are communicated. Ask the same questions about an unforeseen condition uncovered during renovation.

The most reassuring answer is a clear process you can understand and use. A claim that nothing can change is less useful than knowing which commitments are fixed, which decisions remain open and how you will stay informed.

Bring your priorities and the scope you want to achieve into a conversation with Hudson. We can explain how our planning and phase commitments are developed so you can decide whether our approach fits.