You have two quotes in front of you for the same job, whether that is a bathroom change, a ramp, a lift rental, or a block of hired hours. The totals are far apart. Before you decide anything, check whether the two papers describe the same work. Most quote gaps come from that, not from the people doing the work.

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Put both quotes side by side on one sheet

Take a blank page or a spreadsheet and make rows for the things every quote should name: the work itself, labor, materials, equipment or rental, permits, haul-away and cleanup, start date, finish date, payment schedule, and warranty. Fill each row from each quote. If a quote does not mention a row, write 'not stated' in that cell. Do not fill it in yourself.

Read the scope words, not the headline

'Install grab bars' can mean two bars into blocking or two bars into drywall. 'Ramp' can mean a rented aluminum unit or a built wood ramp with landings. 'Eight hours of help' can mean eight hours on site or eight hours including travel and setup. Circle every verb and every quantity on both papers. Where the words differ, ask the person who wrote the quote to say in writing what they mean.

Check what each one leaves out

The cheaper quote is often cheaper because it leaves something out. Look for missing permit work, no removal of the old fixture, no patching after the cut, no cleanup, and no mention of who buys the materials. Ask each company the same three questions: what is not included, what could change the total once the work starts, and who is responsible if the first attempt does not meet the plan. Write down the answers and keep them with the quote.

Read the payment and cancellation terms

A quote that asks for most of the money up front puts more of the risk on you. Compare the payment schedule line by line: how much is due before work starts, what is due at each stage, and what is due at the end. Find the cancellation and change-order terms. Ask how a change to the job gets priced and approved, and whether it must be in writing before the crew does the extra work.

Match the warranty to the materials and the labor

A warranty that covers the parts but not the installation, or the labor but not the parts, is two different promises. Note the length of each, who honors it, and whether it stays valid if someone else touches the work later. If a quote gives no warranty, write that down as a fact on your comparison sheet.

Decide with the sheet, then sign one document

When the rows are filled and the gaps are answered in writing, the comparison is usually clear. If one quote still says 'not stated' in a row that matters for her safety or for the schedule, ask for a revised quote that fills it in. Sign only the revised version, and keep one copy in the same folder as her other care papers. You will need it when the bill arrives and when someone new asks what was agreed.

If you want help finding a second opinion on a written estimate, the list on Local Help for Husband Caregivers is a starting point.

The Two Quotes Must Name the Same Work: How to Compare Written Bids Line by Line