Scope of Work (SOW), Contractors, and Pricing Recommendations For Your Rehab Projects

[Jennifer Freeland]

Hi all,

This questions is based off of something I just experienced just now, so I thought I would come to the Bigger Pockets forum and ask the community their thoughts.  I recently asked a contractor that I typically go with for most of my projects to give me their price for taking out a small size window and installing a larger window into a bedroom.  I have a good relationship with this contractor.  He casually gave me a price of $2,000.00.  I paused and repeated, $2,000.00 back to him just to make sure I heard it right, before asking him to give me a number that made more sense as we both chuckled at that price.  He then came back at price of $700.00 which we agreed to; his labor included, taking out the old window, cutting, framing, drywall, and paint for a larger Home Depot standard size bedroom window. So, here's my question:  "Do you 1.) Create your SOW, add your price/budget upfront, and then ask the contractors if they can do the work for that price/budget or 2.) Create your SOW and let the contractor generate their own cost and negotiate from there?  Thanks in advance for all of your helpful feedback.