Amateur vs Pro (getting contractors and trades)
Amateurs call contractors and ask for estimates based on what they want the finished product to look like.Professionals send bid packets.
Not because they're trying to make life harder, but because they already know the scope. The packet lays it all out, scope of work, plans, photos, timeline, budget, requirements, and anything else a contractor needs to decide if the project is worth bidding.
That way, every bid is based on the same information instead of everyone's best guess. (and eventually lets you scale)
It's always been odd to me that so many people think the "right" way is to spend days waiting on contractors to show up, walk them through the same project five different times, and then compare five prices for five different interpretations of the job.
Just because that's how most people do it doesn't mean it's the best way.
If you want comparable bids, give everyone the same project to bid.