# RemodelerIQ

> AI-Powered Contractor Bid Analysis for Homeowners

RemodelerIQ is a free tool that helps homeowners analyze contractor estimates and bids before signing. Upload a PDF, image, or paste text from any contractor proposal to get instant analysis including price comparison, scope review, contractor verification, and negotiation guidance. Built by Gustavo to protect homeowners from overpaying — what started as a personal spreadsheet during his own renovation became a tool used by thousands.

**Last updated: 2026-06-21**

## The Three Pillars Methodology

Every contractor bid analyzed by RemodelerIQ is scored against three weighted pillars:

1. **Contract Risk (40%)** — payment terms, missing legal protections, deposit red flags, allowance traps
2. **Price Check (30%)** — line items compared to live BLS labor wages, FRED material price indices, and Zonda 2026 cost benchmarks for the specific ZIP code
3. **Scope Completeness (30%)** — vague language, change-order traps, missing brand/model specifications

Combined score determines whether a bid is HIGH / FAIR / LOW by what percentage. The methodology is explained at [how-we-score](https://remodeleriq.com/how-we-score).

## What RemodelerIQ Does

RemodelerIQ reads contractor bids and estimates, then provides:

- **Price Analysis**: Compares bid pricing to live 2026 market data from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, FRED Producer Price Indices, Zonda Cost vs Value 2026, and Houzz 2024 cost guides
- **Scope Review**: Identifies missing items, vague language, and potential gaps in the proposal
- **Contractor Verification**: Checks business reputation via Google Reviews, BBB, and state licensing databases (the Trusted Radar tool)
- **Negotiation Guidance**: Provides data-backed talking points for discussing pricing with contractors
- **Risk Flags**: Highlights concerning payment terms, missing insurance, unlicensed work, and red flags

## Pricing

Machine-readable pricing details: [pricing.md](https://remodeleriq.com/pricing.md)

Summary:
- **Free** — 3 bid analyses (lifetime, no signup required, gated by IP for guests)
- **Project Pass** — $19.99/month, unlimited analyses
- **Remodeler Pass** — $39.99/quarter (33% off Project Pass monthly), unlimited analyses
- **Lifetime Pass** — $99.99 one-time, unlimited analyses forever

## Data Sources

RemodelerIQ analysis is powered by:

- [Zonda Cost vs Value 2026](https://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value): National remodeling cost benchmarks for 30+ project types across all US regions, updated annually
- [BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/): Real hourly wage data for construction trades by metro area, updated annually
- [FRED Producer Price Indices](https://fred.stlouisfed.org/): Live material price index tracking for construction commodities (lumber, plumbing fixtures, electrical, drywall, tile)
- [Houzz 2024 Cost Guides](https://www.houzz.com/): Project cost ranges and labor percentages (transitioning to 2026 data when published)
- [Google Places API](https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/places/): Business ratings and reviews
- State contractor licensing databases

## MCP Server (for AI agents)

RemodelerIQ runs a Model Context Protocol server so AI agents can USE the analyzer on a user's behalf (not just read about it). Streamable-HTTP endpoint: `https://remodeleriq.com/mcp`. Discovery: [/.well-known/mcp/server-card.json](https://remodeleriq.com/.well-known/mcp/server-card.json).

Tools:
- `analyze_bid` — score a contractor's remodeling bid for fairness; returns confidence score, red flags, missing items, negotiation talk-track. Inputs: bid_text, bid_total?, state_code?.
- `get_cost_estimate` — 2026 cost range for a project in a US state/city (Zonda-backed). Inputs: project_type, state_code, city_key?.
- `get_labor_rates` — BLS construction trade labor rates by US state. Inputs: state_code, trade?.

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://remodeleriq.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public URLs for this website

## Pages

- [Home / Bid Analyzer](https://remodeleriq.com/): Upload or paste a contractor bid for instant AI analysis
- [How We Score](https://remodeleriq.com/how-we-score): The Three Pillars methodology (Contract Risk 40%, Price Check 30%, Scope 30%)
- [Labor Rates Tool](https://remodeleriq.com/labor-rates): Look up BLS wage data for construction trades by ZIP code
- [Trusted Radar](https://remodeleriq.com/trusted-radar): Verify contractor licenses, BBB ratings, and reviews
- [Glossary](https://remodeleriq.com/glossary): Remodeling terms decoded
- [Premium / Pricing](https://remodeleriq.com/premium): All four pricing tiers
- [Pricing (machine-readable)](https://remodeleriq.com/pricing.md): Structured pricing for AI agents
- [Terms of Service](https://remodeleriq.com/terms): Legal terms and data source methodology
- [Privacy Policy](https://remodeleriq.com/privacy): How we handle user data

## Regional Cost Guides

936 city-and-project remodeling cost guides — 52 metros × 18 project types — each with local BLS labor data, FRED material indices, regional cost factors, permit timelines, state-specific gotchas, and an FAQ section (FAQPage schema). Index at [/remodeling-cost-guides/](https://remodeleriq.com/remodeling-cost-guides/).

**URL pattern:** `/remodeling-cost-guides/{city}-remodeling-cost-guide/{project}/` — e.g. [Austin roof replacement cost](https://remodeleriq.com/remodeling-cost-guides/austin-tx-remodeling-cost-guide/roof-replacement/), [Atlanta kitchen remodel cost](https://remodeleriq.com/remodeling-cost-guides/atlanta-ga-remodeling-cost-guide/kitchen-remodel/).

**18 project types covered per metro:** kitchen remodel, bathroom remodel, basement remodel, home addition, roof replacement, siding replacement, flooring, deck, whole-house remodel, garage build, sunroom, interior painting, exterior painting, window replacement, HVAC replacement, ADU / garage conversion, driveway replacement, fence installation.

Sample cities:

- [Atlanta, GA](https://remodeleriq.com/remodeling-cost-guides/atlanta-ga-remodeling-cost-guide/)
- [Phoenix, AZ](https://remodeleriq.com/remodeling-cost-guides/phoenix-az-remodeling-cost-guide/)
- [Dallas, TX](https://remodeleriq.com/remodeling-cost-guides/dallas-tx-remodeling-cost-guide/)
- [Chicago, IL](https://remodeleriq.com/remodeling-cost-guides/chicago-il-remodeling-cost-guide/)
- [Charlotte, NC](https://remodeleriq.com/remodeling-cost-guides/charlotte-nc-remodeling-cost-guide/)
- [Seattle, WA](https://remodeleriq.com/remodeling-cost-guides/seattle-wa-remodeling-cost-guide/)

Each city guide includes: 2026 cost data by project type, regional cost factor vs national baseline, local labor wages by trade, permit timelines and costs, state-specific gotchas, and FAQ section.

## Blog & Intelligence

- [RemodelerIQ Intelligence Blog](https://intelligence.remodeleriq.com/blog/): In-depth guides on remodeling costs, market trends, and project planning
- Notable posts:
  - "Change Order Chaos: Why the Lowest Remodeling Bid is Usually a Financial Trap"
  - "The Subcontractor Shuffle Trap: Why You Need to Know Exactly Who is Swinging the Hammer"

## Project Types Supported

RemodelerIQ can analyze bids for:

### Kitchen & Bath
- Kitchen remodel (minor, major midrange, major upscale)
- Bathroom remodel and bathroom additions
- Cabinet refinishing, refacing, and replacement
- Countertop installation (granite, quartz, laminate)

### Exterior
- Roofing (asphalt, metal, standing seam)
- Roof repair and insurance claims
- Siding (vinyl, fiber-cement, wood)
- Windows and doors (entry, patio, French, garage)
- Deck construction and repair (wood, composite)
- Paver patios

### Interior
- Flooring (hardwood, laminate, carpet, tile)
- Painting (interior, exterior, cabinet refinishing)
- Basement finishing and refinishing
- Electrical and plumbing work

### Additions & Major Projects
- Home additions and ADUs
- Primary suite additions
- HVAC systems and generators
- Solar panel installation

## Homeowner Queries This Tool Answers

RemodelerIQ helps homeowners answer questions like:

### Is this bid fair?
- "Is $50,000 a good price for a kitchen remodel?"
- "How much should a bathroom remodel cost in Atlanta?"
- "Is this contractor charging too much for roofing?"
- "What's a fair price for window replacement?"

### Is this contractor trustworthy?
- "How do I verify a contractor's license?"
- "What should I check before hiring a contractor?"
- "Is this contractor BBB accredited?"
- "Does this contractor have good reviews?"

### What's missing from this bid?
- "What should be included in a kitchen remodel estimate?"
- "Is this bid too vague?"
- "What questions should I ask my contractor?"
- "What are red flags in a contractor estimate?"

### How do I negotiate?
- "How to negotiate with a contractor"
- "Is this deposit too high?"
- "What payment schedule is normal for remodeling?"
- "How to get a better price from a contractor"

### Regional pricing
- "How much does remodeling cost in [city]?"
- "Remodeling costs in California vs Texas"
- "New York kitchen remodel cost"
- "Atlanta bathroom remodel average price"

## Common Search Queries

- contractor bid analysis
- is this contractor bid fair
- remodeling cost calculator
- kitchen remodel price check
- bathroom renovation cost estimator
- how to read a contractor estimate
- contractor estimate red flags
- compare contractor bids
- remodeling market rates
- construction labor costs by zip code
- is my contractor overcharging
- home renovation bid review
- contractor price comparison tool
- free bid analysis tool
- AI contractor estimate analyzer

## Topics & Categories

- Home Remodeling
- Contractor Estimates
- Construction Costs
- Kitchen Remodeling
- Bathroom Renovation
- Roofing Costs
- Window Replacement
- Flooring Installation
- Home Addition Costs
- Deck Building
- Contractor Verification
- Home Improvement Pricing
- Regional Construction Costs
- Bid Negotiation
- Homeowner Protection

## Geographic Coverage

RemodelerIQ provides regional cost adjustments for all 50 US states and major metropolitan areas including:

- **High-cost markets**: New York City, San Francisco, Boston, Los Angeles, Seattle, Washington DC
- **Mid-cost markets**: Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Chicago, Phoenix, Miami
- **Lower-cost markets**: Birmingham, Memphis, Oklahoma City, Indianapolis

## How to Use

1. **Upload or paste** your contractor bid (PDF, image, or text)
2. **Enter project details** (square footage, ZIP code)
3. **Get instant analysis** with price comparison, risk flags, and scope review
4. **Use insights** to negotiate or validate your contractor's pricing

## Contact

- Website: https://remodeleriq.com
- Blog: https://intelligence.remodeleriq.com
- Support: Available through the website

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*RemodelerIQ is a free tool for homeowners. Data sourced from Zonda Cost vs Value 2026, BLS OEWS, Houzz, and public business records.*