A wise consumer shops for a reputable builder who works with him and understands his needs. Getting competitive bids is customary as it will help you the consumer make the best transaction. You must be sure to seek bids only from reputable builders. Irresponsible builders sometimes present a bid that is usually low, then claim it does not cover part of the work. If you use competitive bidding, you must have a complete set of plans and specifications prepared by a professional designer/builder or architect. Having these as the basis for the bid will assure the work is aimed toward the results you are seeking and also act as a basis against which work progress and materials used may be checked.

"The Lowest Bidder"

It's unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money-that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the job it was bought to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot-it can't be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and, if you do that, you will have enough to pay for something better.

-- John Ruskin Author - Economist 1819-1900