KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Compare scope first, price second.
- Look for what is excluded as well as what is included.
- The lowest number is often the shortest scope.
Many strata bylaws or habits call for three quotes. But quotes written on three different scopes will not help the council decide, however many you collect.
Line them up
Put the quotes in a simple table, with one row for each of these:
- Surfaces included, listed one by one.
- Washing method.
- Caulking: repair or renew.
- Priming, and number of finish coats.
- Products, by name.
- How wood repair is priced.
- Access method and who pays for it.
- Clean-up, notices and final walk-through.
- Warranty terms in writing.
Then check the company
- WorkSafeBC clearance letter and certificate of insurance.
- Whether their own crews will paint, or subcontractors.
- Recent strata references you can phone.
- Who will actually be on site, and who you call.
Ask why the prices differ
If one quote is far from the others, ask why. There is usually a reason, such as a thinner scope, an assumption about access or a different product. One Vancouver strata we worked for picked us when we were neither the largest company nor the lowest quote, because of how the work would be delivered. That is a reasonable way to choose.
This guide is general information for strata councils and property managers in British Columbia, not legal advice. Check your registered bylaws and the current Strata Property Act, or ask your property manager or a lawyer, before relying on it for a decision.
