A Roof Quote Is Not a Contract: Check the Scope, the Change Order Line, and Who Signs for the House

A written estimate for home repair is an offer to do work, not yet a contract, and the lines that set the final price are usually the ones the estimate leaves out. A roof quote for a parent's house is the common case: the total looks clear, but the scope, the change order terms, and the signature block decide what the family actually pays and who is answerable if something goes wrong. Read the paper the way you would read a contract, because that is what it becomes once signed.

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Three documents, three different jobs

Keep the estimate, the proposal, and the signed contract separate in the file. An estimate usually gives a price range based on a site visit. A proposal sets out the work in more detail. The contract is the document that binds both sides. Compare them line by line before anyone signs. If the contract is shorter than the proposal, or leaves out materials or cleanup the proposal named, ask for the omitted item in writing before the start is set.

The scope and the change order line

Check that the scope names the materials by type and quantity, the tear-off and disposal, the flashing and vents, and what is excluded. Find the change order procedure. It should say how a change is priced, who approves it in writing, and whether the work stops until approval. Without that line, the first unexpected repair under the deck becomes an extra charge with no agreed rate. Ask for the rate the contractor will use for changes and write it into the contract.

Who signs for the house

Check whose name is on the deed and who is signing for that owner. If the parent owns the house, the family member signing must have the authority to do so, and a power of attorney only works if it covers property and is in force. If there is any doubt about whether the parent can make the decision, stop and take the paper to a Missouri attorney before a deposit is paid. The attorney reads the actual power of attorney document, which a general guide cannot do.

Warranty, insurance, and permit

Ask for the warranty in writing, and check whether it is the manufacturer's warranty on the materials, the installer's warranty on the labor, or both. Note the length, what is covered, and how a claim is made. Ask for the contractor's liability insurance certificate and workers' compensation certificate, and check that both are current. Confirm with the local building department whether a permit is required and who pulls it, because unpermitted work can complicate a later sale or insurance claim.

Financing and lien waivers

If the work is paid over time or with a loan, read the loan terms the same way: the rate, the fees, the payment schedule, and what happens if a payment is late. The CFPB publishes consumer guides on home improvement loans that explain these terms. Before the final payment, ask the contractor for a signed lien waiver covering the suppliers and subcontractors. Whether that waiver is enough to protect the house is a question for a Missouri attorney, not the contractor.

Our sources page lists the public pages each claim in this guide comes from.