Getting Multiple Bids Doesn't Mean

You're Getting an Honest One.

FREE 1-PAGE CHEAT SHEET, SAN DIEGO PERMIT HOLDERS

San Diego contractors submit bids in completely different formats — on purpose. It makes comparison nearly impossible and hides where the real money is. This free 1-page Bid Decoder gives you a standardized grading rubric so you can finally compare bids on equal terms and spot the hidden markups before you sign.

🔒 Downloaded by 400+ SD homeowners | Takes 60 seconds to request

Three Bids Sitting on Your Desk.

You Have No Idea If Any of Them Are Honest.

Here's the trap most homeowners fall into: you get three bids, one is $40,000 cheaper than the others, and it feels like a win. So you take it.

What you don't know is that the low bid is missing $25,000 in trenching costs, has a vague "allowances" line that will balloon during the build, and includes a 22% markup on sub-contractor labor that's buried in "project management."

The other two bids aren't necessarily better, they might just hide the same costs in different places.

The problem isn't having multiple bids. It's that you're comparing apples to hand grenades.

A Bid Decoder flips this. It gives you a standardized rubric, a grading system, that scores every bid on the same criteria regardless of how it's formatted. You stop comparing dollar totals and start comparing what's actually included.

What the Bid Decoder Covers

Grade A — Scope Completeness
Does the bid include every phase of work, or are major items listed as "by owner" or "TBD"? A vague scope is the most expensive four letters in construction.

Grade B — Labor Model
Is the crew salaried and in-house, or is every trade a separate sub-contractor with a markup layer on top? In-house labor consistently saves 15–25%.

Grade C — Equipment
Are heavy equipment costs itemized with owned vs. rental distinction? Daily rental markups are one of the fastest ways a budget inflates mid-project.

Grade D — Allowances & Contingencies
Are "allowances" specific and reasonable, or are they catch-all buckets that give the contractor room to overcharge? Every vague allowance is a future change order.

Grade E — Payment Schedule — How daily rental fees quietly inflate your invoice by $8,000–$15,000 on a standard ADU or addition.

The 5 Questions That Expose Everything
Is the payment schedule tied to measurable milestones, or is it front-loaded in the contractor's favor? A payment schedule tells you everything about how confident a builder is in their own timeline.

Download the Bid Decoder — Free

One page. Five grades. Know exactly what you're signing before you sign it.

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Why BuilderMatch SD Made This

We built this resource because we've seen what happens when homeowners sign contracts they didn't fully understand.

BuilderMatch SD is a private matching service for San Diego permit holders. We connect homeowners and developers with vetted, local wood-frame contractors from our private network — free of charge. Our income comes from the builder, only after you hire someone.

The Bid Decoder is something every permit holder should have regardless of whether they use our service. We'd rather you make a great decision with a contractor you found independently than make a bad one because nobody handed you this tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

I already have a contractor I like. Is this still useful?

Yes, especially then. Even a contractor you trust should be able to pass this rubric. If they can't explain their labor model, their allowance line items, or their payment schedule, that's important information before you commit.

Is this actually free or is there a catch?

No catch. The Bid Decoder costs you nothing. Our matching service also costs you nothing. We earn only when a homeowner hires a builder from our network, and only then.

What if I've already signed a contract?

Run the decoder anyway. If there are red flags, it helps you know which questions to ask and which change orders to push back on before they hit.

Testimonials

John Doe

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Jane Doe