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What should a written contractor estimate include?

The FTC's consumer advice says a written estimate should include a description of the work to be done, materials, completion date, and the price. Some states set what certain signed home improvement contracts must contain, among them New York's General Business Law § 771 and Massachusetts chapter 142A, section 2, quoted below.

Source: FTC consumer advice on home improvement contractors, read 20 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).
Source: New York General Business Law § 771, New York State Senate Open Legislation, read 20 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).
Source: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 142A, § 2, Massachusetts Legislature, read 20 October 2026.

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By InstaBids editorial team with AI research agents. Sources read: 20 October 2026 Updated 2026-10-20

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Key facts

What does New York's section 771 require in writing?

N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 771(1) is quoted below in its own words: its opening, and its items on dates, the work and materials, and progress payments. The statute speaks of the contract, not the estimate, so the items below are the ones to look for before you sign.

Source: New York General Business Law § 771, New York State Senate Open Legislation, read 20 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).

N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 771(1), read 20 October 2026 on the New York State Senate's Open Legislation site (most recent revision, 29 October 2021): "Every home improvement contract subject to the provisions of this article, and all amendments thereto, shall be evidenced by a writing and shall be signed by all the parties to the contract." It continues: "The writing shall contain the following:"

Source: New York General Business Law § 771, New York State Senate Open Legislation, read 20 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).

  1. Dates. N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 771(1)(b): "(b) The approximate dates, or estimated dates, when the work will begin and be substantially completed, including a statement of any contingencies that would materially change the approximate or estimated completion date."

    Source: New York General Business Law § 771, New York State Senate Open Legislation, read 20 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).

  2. Work, materials and price. N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 771(1)(c): "(c) A description of the work to be performed, the materials to be provided to the owner, including make, model number or any other identifying information, and the agreed upon consideration for the work and materials."

    Source: New York General Business Law § 771, New York State Senate Open Legislation, read 20 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).

  3. Progress payments. N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 771(1)(f): "(f) If the contract provides for one or more progress payments to be paid to the home improvement contractor by the owner before substantial completion of the work, a schedule of such progress payments showing the amount of each payment, as a sum in dollars and cents, and specifically identifying the state of completion of the work or services to be performed, including any materials to be supplied before each such progress payment is due."

    Source: New York General Business Law § 771, New York State Senate Open Legislation, read 20 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).

Section 771 lists other items too. Which contracts the article covers is set by its own definitions, which this page does not quote, so read the full section on the official page.

Source: New York General Business Law § 771, New York State Senate Open Legislation, read 20 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).

What does Massachusetts chapter 142A require in the contract?

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 142A, § 2(a) is quoted below in its own words: its opening, and its items on dates, the work and materials, and the total.

Source: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 142A, § 2, Massachusetts Legislature, read 20 October 2026.

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 142A, § 2(a), read 20 October 2026 on the Massachusetts Legislature's website: "(a) Every agreement to perform residential contracting services in an amount in excess of one thousand dollars shall be in writing and shall include the following documents and information:"

Source: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 142A, § 2, Massachusetts Legislature, read 20 October 2026.

  1. Dates. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 142A, § 2(a)(3): "(3) the date on which the work under the contract is scheduled to begin and the date on which said work is scheduled to be substantially completed;"

    Source: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 142A, § 2, Massachusetts Legislature, read 20 October 2026.

  2. Work and materials. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 142A, § 2(a)(4): "(4) a detailed description of the work to be done and the materials to be used in the performance of said contract;"

    Source: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 142A, § 2, Massachusetts Legislature, read 20 October 2026.

  3. Total. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 142A, § 2(a)(5): "(5) the total amount agreed to be paid for the work to be performed under said contract;"

    Source: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 142A, § 2, Massachusetts Legislature, read 20 October 2026.

The same section also says: "At the time of signing, the owner shall be furnished with a copy of the contract signed by both the contractor and the owner."

Source: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 142A, § 2, Massachusetts Legislature, read 20 October 2026.

What does the FTC say to check before you sign?

Even if your state doesn’t require a written agreement, ask for one, the FTC's consumer advice says, and before you sign a contract, make sure it includes an estimated start and completion date. That advice is guidance, not a statute.

Source: FTC consumer advice on home improvement contractors, read 20 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).

The FTC's consumer advice on home improvement contractors, read 20 October 2026, says: "Contract requirements vary by state." It adds: "Even if your state doesn’t require a written agreement, ask for one."

Source: FTC consumer advice on home improvement contractors, read 20 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).

On the estimate itself, the same advice says: "A written estimate should include a description of the work to be done, materials, completion date, and the price." The state laws quoted above govern the signed contract, not the estimate.

Source: FTC consumer advice on home improvement contractors, read 20 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).
Source: New York General Business Law § 771, New York State Senate Open Legislation, read 20 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).
Source: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 142A, § 2, Massachusetts Legislature, read 20 October 2026.

Its list of what to make sure a contract includes before you sign names "an estimated start and completion date". After that list it says: "And, make sure all blank spaces are filled in."

Source: FTC consumer advice on home improvement contractors, read 20 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).

What cancellation notice does the federal Cooling-Off Rule require?

16 CFR § 429.1 is quoted below in its own words: its opening, its paragraph (a), and the start of the cancellation statement it sets out. Whether your sale is covered depends on the rule's own definitions, which this page does not quote.

Source: 16 CFR part 429, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, read 20 October 2026.

16 CFR § 429.1, read 20 October 2026 on the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, opens: "In connection with any door-to-door sale, it constitutes an unfair and deceptive act or practice for any seller to:"

Source: 16 CFR part 429, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, read 20 October 2026.

Its paragraph (a) reads: "Fail to furnish the buyer with a fully completed receipt or copy of any contract pertaining to such sale at the time of its execution, which is in the same language, e.g., Spanish, as that principally used in the oral sales presentation and which shows the date of the transaction and contains the name and address of the seller, and in immediate proximity to the space reserved in the contract for the signature of the buyer or on the front page of the receipt if a contract is not used and in bold face type of a minimum size of 10 points, a statement in substantially the following form:"

Source: 16 CFR part 429, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, read 20 October 2026.

The statement it then sets out begins: "You, the buyer, may cancel this transaction at any time prior to midnight of the third business day after the date of this transaction."

Source: 16 CFR part 429, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, read 20 October 2026.

The FTC's consumer advice, which is guidance and not the rule, puts this item in its list of what to make sure a contract includes before you sign: "a written statement of your right to cancel the contract within three business days, if you signed it in your home or at a location other than the seller’s permanent place of business".

Source: FTC consumer advice on home improvement contractors, read 20 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).

How can you check an estimate against these lists?

Lay the estimate next to your own state's list and the FTC's advice, and ask the contractor in writing to add anything missing before you sign. This is practical reasoning, not legal advice and not a finding from any state.

  1. Find your state's home improvement contract law on its official legislature website and read the whole section, since a quoted line can depend on the text around it.
  2. Check that the estimate describes the work and names the materials, with make and model where the job uses specific products.
  3. Check for a start date and a completion date, and for anything named that could change them.
  4. Check for the total price and, if payments are due as the work goes on, a schedule that ties each payment to a stage of the work.
  5. Ask for any promise made in conversation to be written into the contract.
  6. Do not sign a contract with blank spaces, and keep a signed copy.

What stays hidden when you post a job on InstaBids?

Contact details stay hidden until the homeowner picks a contractor and they confirm the connection.

Source: InstaBids process and privacy, live-page excerpts, read 20 October 2026.

Post your job on InstaBids, and contractors can bid in writing on one written scope.

Homeowners anywhere in the US can post a job; once you send it, InstaBids finds contractors to bid on it.

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