Should you match a lowball bid to win a job?

Work it through

You're the contractor. Pick what you'd do, then see how each choice plays out.

Jordan Price

Real estate investor who flips houses

Listen

1. ALet him walk. Someone willing to do $38K of work for $22K is either going to cut corners, skip permits, or go broke trying. None of that is your problem
   Correct

   The contractor who takes a $22K bid on $38K of work will either skip permits, use unlicensed subs, install substandard materials, or abandon the project when the money runs out. Six months later, the buyer of Jordan's flip discovers unpermitted work, and SOMEONE gets an MHIC complaint. Better it's not you. Your license is worth more than Jordan's flip margin.

2. BNegotiate to $28,000 by reducing the scope — focus on cosmetics that matter for resale, skip structural improvements
   Smart compromise

   Reducing scope to match budget is professional. Focus on high-impact cosmetics (kitchen, bathrooms, paint, flooring) and exclude structural work that requires engineering and expensive permits. Be explicit in the contract about what IS and ISN'T included. Make sure the reduced scope still meets code for the work you're performing. A smaller job done right beats a big job done wrong.