--- title: How to Make Sense of Contractor Pricing Lingo description: Hiring a general contractor in Connecticut can be intimidating if you don't understand their lingo. Here are a few key pricing terms you should know. image: https://blog.litchfieldbuilders.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/freeimage-780366-high.jpg --- Free Tool: Calculate Your Next Home Project! [![Calculate Now](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/294410/d7814dc1-00f5-4d48-842d-f1e3fe1f4fab.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/294410/d7814dc1-00f5-4d48-842d-f1e3fe1f4fab) [**](https://blog.litchfieldbuilders.com/how-to-make-sense-of-contractor-pricing-lingo#) [![Litchfield Builders](https://blog.litchfieldbuilders.com/hubfs/Litchfieldbuilders%20August2017/Images/logo.png)](https://www.litchfieldbuilders.com/) [![Houzz](https://blog.litchfieldbuilders.com/hubfs/Litchfieldbuilders%20August2017/Images/houzz-logo.png)](http://www.houzz.com/pro/litchfield-builders/litchfield-builders-inc) - [**](http://twitter.com/#!/LitchfieldBldrs) - [**](http://www.facebook.com/litchfieldbuildersct) - [**](http://pinterest.com/litchfieldbldrs) - [**](http://www.google.com/+Litchfieldbuilders) - [**](http://www.youtube.com/user/litchfieldbuilders/) - [**](http://litchfield.wpengine.com/?feed=rss2) - [**](http://www.linkedin.com/company/litchfield-builders-inc-) - Categories** - [Subscribe](https://offers.litchfieldbuilders.com/subscribe-to-the-blog) - [**](https://www.facebook.com/litchfieldbuildersct) - [**](https://twitter.com/LitchfieldBldrs) - [**](https://www.linkedin.com/company/litchfield-builders-inc-) ![Blog Feature](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/298890/blog-files/blog--cards-feature.png) [Subscribe](https://offers.litchfieldbuilders.com/subscribe-to-the-blog) ![Kevin Ahern](https://blog.litchfieldbuilders.com/hubfs/Kevin-Ahern.jpg "Kevin Ahern") By: [Kevin Ahern](https://blog.litchfieldbuilders.com/author/litchfield-builders) on February 25th, 2014 ** Print/Save as PDF # How to Make Sense of Contractor Pricing Lingo [Commercial](https://blog.litchfieldbuilders.com/topic/commercial) | [General Contractors](https://blog.litchfieldbuilders.com/topic/general-contractors) | [Residential](https://blog.litchfieldbuilders.com/topic/residential) | [Residential Remodeling](https://blog.litchfieldbuilders.com/topic/residential-remodeling) | [Industry Knowledge](https://blog.litchfieldbuilders.com/topic/industry-knowledge) - Share: - [**](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blog.litchfieldbuilders.com/how-to-make-sense-of-contractor-pricing-lingo) - [**](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=How+to+Make+Sense+of+Contractor+Pricing+Lingo&url=https://blog.litchfieldbuilders.com/how-to-make-sense-of-contractor-pricing-lingo&via=) - [**](https://plus.google.com/share?url=https://blog.litchfieldbuilders.com/how-to-make-sense-of-contractor-pricing-lingo) - [**](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https://blog.litchfieldbuilders.com/how-to-make-sense-of-contractor-pricing-lingo&title=How+to+Make+Sense+of+Contractor+Pricing+Lingo&summary=Hiring+a+general+contractor+in+Connecticut+can+be+intimidating+if+you+don%27t+understand+their+lingo.+Here+are+a+few+key+pricing+terms+you+should+know.) - [**](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://blog.litchfieldbuilders.com/how-to-make-sense-of-contractor-pricing-lingo&media=http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/294410/Imported_Blog_Media/freeimage-780366-high.jpg&description=Hiring+a+general+contractor+in+Connecticut+can+be+intimidating+if+you+don%27t+understand+their+lingo.+Here+are+a+few+key+pricing+terms+you+should+know.) - [**](mailto:?body=https://blog.litchfieldbuilders.com/how-to-make-sense-of-contractor-pricing-lingo) Hiring a general contractor in Connecticut can be intimidating, and this is especially true if you're unfamiliar with their industry language or lingo. A great deal of the typical contractor jargon relates to the process of setting [the price for the job](https://litchfieldbuilders.com/4-reasons-to-be-wary-of-low-contractor-bids/). If you can speak with authority about the cost of the job, the process for hiring a contractor becomes less intimidating. Here are a few key terms to help get you through the remodeling process. ## Contractor Estimate "At its core, every price a contractor provides is an estimate  of the labor and materials it will take to complete your project." For an estimate, the property owner merely tells the contractor what they would like to have accomplished. The contractor is then left to to describe what you will see and give allowances for items that make up the price. "In residential construction, an **estimate **or proposal generally is not a firm price..." "The alternative to an estimate is a **bid**, which means the contractor or subcontractor gives you a firm price after examining the scope and details of the project at hand ..." Detailed bids may vary greatly from contractor to contractor if they are not provided the same project information. The size of the company may also affect their bid as a small one-man operation will have far lower overhead costs than a company with many services and employees. ## Rough Order of Magnitude “The **Rough Order of Magnitude** is useful in narrowing down and selecting the contractor with whom you want to work, but it  doesn’t tell you exactly what your project will cost. [It] usually entails allowances based on square foot and unit costs, and extrapolation from other projects of similar size and scope”, but no specifics... [Read More](http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/21655622/list/Learn-the-Lingo-of-Construction-Project-Costs). ## Cost-Plus / Time and Materials Contract "When a contractor [has a realistic] estimate as a basis for a construction contract, it is usually called a **[time and materials](https://litchfieldbuilders.com/commercial-construction/time-and-materials-service-ct/) **or cost plus contract. The “plus” in the estimate is a contractor’s markup for overhead (sometimes called a contractor’s fee) that is applied to some or all of the costs of the project..." [Read More](http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/21655622/list/Learn-the-Lingo-of-Construction-Project-Costs). **Key Takeaway** While the theory of getting multiple prices seems to be of high importance to most people, it is even more important to make sure the general contractors are providing the same scope of work, high-quality workmanship, and quality products and that they will be around after the sale to provide follow up and warranty service if needed.**  **It's important to [choose a licensed contractor](https://litchfieldbuilders.com/how-to-choose-a-professional-home-remodeling-contractor/) with good references and a history of quality work who can trust to guide you through the remodeling process. [![CTA Free Guide Download: How to Choose a Home Remodeling Contractor ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/294410/c0b9b5af-0384-44f5-a117-5b329ab0bb19.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/294410/c0b9b5af-0384-44f5-a117-5b329ab0bb19)© Siamimages | [Dreamstime Stock Photos](http://www.dreamstime.com/) & [Stock Free Images](http://www.stockfreeimages.com/) [**Source**](http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/21655622/list/Learn-the-Lingo-of-Construction-Project-Costs) #### About Kevin Ahern Kevin is the Co-Founder of Litchfield Builders, an award-winning, industry leader with a reputation for managing projects others shy away from. They are known for their high-quality work, customer service, and reliability and though still relatively small in size, Litchfield Builders now competes with some of the areas largest firms in both the residential and commercial arenas. ![Residential Remodeling in Connecticut](https://blog.litchfieldbuilders.com/hubfs/Litchfieldbuilders%20August2017/Images/logo_white.png) 2199 State Street Hamden, CT 06517 [View Map](https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=2199+State+Street,+Hamden,+CT&aq=0&oq=2199+State+Street,+Hamden&sll=41.500765,-72.757507&sspn=1.300054,2.90863&vpsrc=0&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=2199+State+St,+Hamden,+Connecticut+06517&t=m&z=16&iwloc=A) P: 203.772.2453 - [Residential](https://www.litchfieldbuilders.com/new-haven-county-residential-remodeling) - [Commercial](https://www.litchfieldbuilders.com/new-haven-county-commercial-contractors/) - [Millwork](https://www.litchfieldbuilders.com/residential-construction/millwork/) - [Portfolio](https://www.litchfieldbuilders.com/new-haven-county-remodeling-portfolios/) - [Testimonials](https://blog.litchfieldbuilders.com/how-to-make-sense-of-contractor-pricing-lingo#) - [About Us](https://www.litchfieldbuilders.com/about/) - [Blog](https://blog.litchfieldbuilders.com/) - [Resources](https://www.litchfieldbuilders.com/resources/) - [Contact Us](https://www.litchfieldbuilders.com/contact/) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.litchfieldbuilders.com/privacy-policy/) ###### Connect with us: - [**](http://twitter.com/#!/LitchfieldBldrs) - [**](http://www.facebook.com/litchfieldbuildersct) - [**](http://pinterest.com/litchfieldbldrs) - [**](http://www.google.com/+Litchfieldbuilders) - [**](http://www.youtube.com/user/litchfieldbuilders/) - [**](http://litchfield.wpengine.com/?feed=rss2) - [**](http://www.linkedin.com/company/litchfield-builders-inc-) [![Houzz](https://blog.litchfieldbuilders.com/hubfs/Litchfieldbuilders%20August2017/Images/houzz-logo.png)](http://www.houzz.com/pro/litchfield-builders/litchfield-builders-inc) Licensed & Insured   #HIC.0558048   #MCO.0901419   #NHC.0000077   Demo Lic. #1261 © Litchfield Builders. 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