Three quotes for the same job rarely price the same work. This lines them up row by row so you can see what each one leaves out. Works in Claude or ChatGPT.
Step 1: Upload all three quotes
PDFs, photos of a paper form, or a pasted email all work.
Step 2: Paste this prompt
These are 3 quotes for the same job. Make one table: a row for every item any quote includes, a column per contractor. Mark each cell: ✓ included, ✗ left out or reused, ? not mentioned. Quote the exact line you used for every cell. Then list what each quote leaves out or leaves open-ended, and the questions I should ask each contractor.
The 15-line roof checklist
For a roof, ask it to use these rows so nothing gets skipped:
Tear-off: removing the old roof, and how many layers
Shingles: brand and product line
Underlayment: synthetic, 15# felt or 30# felt, and coverage
Ice and water shield: eaves only, valleys, or both
Drip edge: new or reused
Ventilation: ridge vent, box vents, reused or new
Flashing and pipe boots: step, counter, chimney, pipe boots; new or reused
Decking replacement: sheets included, price per sheet, and whether there's a cap
Permit: pulled and paid by the contractor
Dumpster and haul-away: debris removal and nail sweep
Manufacturer warranty
Workmanship warranty: how many years they cover labor
Payment terms: deposit percent and schedule
Timeline: start date and days on site
Insurance and license: license number, liability, workers comp
What it found in my test
I made three test quotes for the same house (totals $17,655, $15,900 and $16,980). The cheapest had 7 problems, including no permit, rotted decking at $95 a sheet with no cap, and a 50% deposit. I checked all 43 quoted lines against the quotes, and every one was there word for word.
If you're the contractor
Your customers can run this on your quote. Write it so every line can be checked, and it will come out looking like the most complete one.