Ask three contractors to quote the same AC replacement and you can get three documents that barely resemble each other. One is a single line and a total. One lists equipment and labor but says nothing about the permit. One quotes a bigger system than the other two and does not say why. The totals can be thousands of dollars apart, and the only thing they obviously have in common is the bottom line.

So most homeowners compare the bottom line. It is the one number they understand, and they are usually deciding quickly, sometimes in a heat wave with a dead system and a contractor waiting for a signature.

The price is the wrong place to start

The lowest quote is often low because it leaves something out. No load calculation, so the size is a guess. No permit, so no inspection. No line set, no electrical work, no start-up checks, so those become extras later or never happen at all. Comparing totals between quotes that cover different work is like comparing the price of two cars without checking whether both come with wheels.

The fix is simple to describe and tedious to do: line the quotes up by scope first, find the gaps, and ask each contractor to fill them in writing. Only then compare prices.

What we built

QuoteLoupe does the tedious part. You add a quote, by typing the details or pasting or uploading it, and the checker:

  • scores it against the 14 items a complete replacement quote should cover, from the load calculation to the pad under the outdoor unit;
  • flags the gaps and the sales behaviour worth a second look, such as pressure to sign today or a deposit above half the price;
  • turns every missing item into a plain question you can send your contractor;
  • puts up to three quotes side by side, so you can see which one actually covers more.

The weights behind the score, and every flag rule, are published on our methodology page. Nothing about how the score is calculated is hidden.

Three decisions we made on purpose

We do not show prices. We could have shown a “typical cost” range, as many sites do. But we do not have verified price data for your area, and a confident-looking number with nothing behind it would do more harm than no number at all. Price context will come only when it rests on real, sourced data.

Your quote never leaves your device. A quote can contain your address, your contractor’s details and what you are about to spend. The checker reads it in your browser, including photos and PDFs, and sends nothing to us. There is no account, no database of quotes and nothing to leak.

Flags are questions, not accusations. A missing permit line might mean the contractor forgot to write it down. The checker does not judge; it tells you what to ask. Most good contractors are glad to answer.

Who it is for

Anyone in the United States holding one to three written quotes to replace an AC, furnace or heat pump, and wondering whether they are complete. It is also useful before the quotes arrive: the guide to what a quote should include tells you what to ask for up front.

If you have a quote in hand, check it before you sign. And if something on the site is wrong or unclear, tell us. We would rather fix it than have you rely on it.