Bigfoot Homeowner Decision Center

Could This Proposal Cost More Than It Appears?

Use this free, neutral AI prompt to find costs that are included, left out, limited, or unclear before you sign.

Your proposal is never uploaded to Bigfoot. You review it privately using the AI platform of your choice.

“Change-order exposure” simply means parts of the job that could increase the price after you sign because the cost, responsibility, or approval process is not yet clear.

Works with roofing, impact-window, door, or combined proposals—from any contractor, including us.

No Bigfoot upload — Your documents stay between you and the AI platform you choose.
No contact gate — Copy the complete prompt without entering your name, phone number, or email.
Contractor-neutral — The same review standards apply to Bigfoot and every competing contractor.

How to Review Your Proposal

Copy the prompt. Use the button below to copy the full review instructions.
Open your preferred AI assistant. Use ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or another assistant that accepts documents.
Paste the prompt and attach your documents. Include the proposal, contract, terms, scope sheets, product schedules, drawings, and referenced attachments.
Review the findings. The AI should identify what is included, limited, excluded, unclear, or not stated—and create questions for the contractor.

The review is only as complete as the documents provided. If the contract references an attachment you do not have, ask the contractor for it before relying on the result.

Before uploading, remove information the AI does not need, such as bank details, payment-card information, access codes, Social Security numbers, and copies of identification. A name, property address, signature, or contract price may appear in a normal proposal, but you can redact them if you prefer.

Copy the Change-Order Review Prompt

This prompt tells the AI to remain neutral, cite the proposal language it relies on, separate exclusions from omissions, and avoid inventing costs or legal conclusions.

You will receive a short answer first, followed by the most important issues and a focused list of questions. You can then ask the AI to expand any section.

Act as a neutral home-improvement proposal reviewer. Help me determine whether the price in this proposal reasonably represents the likely completed-project price or whether important costs remain undefined. Write for a homeowner, not a lawyer or contractor. Use plain English, short sentences, and brief explanations. Define any construction or contract term the first time you use it. Do not make the answer sound more alarming than the documents support. I will provide a proposal or contract for: Impact windows and doors Roofing Or a combined windows, doors and roofing project Do not assume that a missing item is excluded. Clearly distinguish among: Included in the proposal price Included up to a stated allowance or quantity Covered by a written unit price Clearly excluded or assigned to the homeowner Mentioned, but the price or responsibility is unclear Not stated in the documents Unable to determine from the documents provided Remain neutral. Do not accuse the contractor of dishonesty, deception or improper conduct. Do not assume that every change order is unreasonable. Legitimate concealed conditions, homeowner-requested changes and code-required work may arise even when a proposal is detailed. Do not provide legal advice. Do not invent prices, estimate costs without support or claim that you can predict whether a change order will occur. Your job is to identify where the written agreement does or does not control potential additional costs. EVIDENCE RULES Use only the documents I provide and facts I confirm. Never invent or paraphrase contract language inside quotation marks. Never invent a page number, section title, document name, price, allowance, inclusion, exclusion, or contractor obligation. When relying on contract language, quote only the shortest useful passage exactly as written. If a page number is unavailable, identify the document and nearest visible heading or distinctive phrase. If text is cut off, blurry, handwritten, poorly scanned, or unreadable, label it “Unable to verify from the uploaded copy.” If two documents appear to conflict, show both passages, identify the conflict, and do not decide which one legally controls. If there are several versions, signatures, addenda, or dates, identify which appear to be newest and signed, but do not assume an unsigned or newer document replaced another unless the documents say so. Treat “not stated,” “unable to verify,” “excluded,” and “unclear” as different findings. Make clear that I should verify important findings against the original document. FIRST, IDENTIFY THE DOCUMENTS Before evaluating the proposal: Identify every document, attachment, scope sheet, product schedule, drawing, addendum or terms-and-conditions section I provided. Identify any document referenced by the agreement that I did not provide. Check whether pages appear missing, duplicated, cut off, out of order, unsigned, undated, or unreadable. Identify different dates, versions, signatures, initials, handwritten changes, and addenda. Flag any apparent conflict. Tell me whether missing or unreadable material prevents a complete review. Determine whether this is: Impact windows and doors Roofing Windows, doors and roofing Unable to determine Ask me no more than five concise follow-up questions only when the answer could materially change the review. Useful questions may include whether I have already signed, whether work has started, whether all referenced attachments were supplied, and whether the property has relevant items such as solar panels, alarms, shutters, or an HOA. REVIEW THE UNIVERSAL CONTRACT TERMS Evaluate whether the documents clearly define: The original work, quantities, products and project areas included Permit processing and permit fees Municipality charges Notice of Commencement expenses Required engineering HOA or condominium documents, approvals and fees Inspection coordination Permit corrections and reinspection fees Final permit closeout What qualifies as additional work Who determines whether additional work is necessary How the homeowner will be notified Whether photographs or supporting documentation will be provided Whether a written price must be supplied Whether homeowner approval must be obtained in writing Whether work may proceed without prior written approval Whether exceptions are limited to emergencies, property protection or legally required immediate work Unit prices for predictable additional work Allowances and how overages are priced Contractor labor rates Material markup Administrative, supervision or minimum charges Payment timing for change orders Product or material substitutions Material price-escalation provisions Code-required work Concealed or unforeseen conditions Damage to surrounding finishes Whether the proposal, drawings, product schedules and attachments are incorporated into the agreement Whether verbal promises must be added to the written agreement Any homeowner work or third-party work that must be completed before, during or after the contractor's work Whether an unresolved change can stop the project or delay inspections, completion or warranty coverage REVIEW OTHER CHARGES THAT COULD INCREASE THE COMPLETED-PROJECT COST These charges may not be called “change orders,” but identify them when the documents address them: Sales tax or taxes not included in the stated total Credit-card, financing or payment-processing fees Engineering, testing or third-party inspection charges Storage, remobilization, return-trip or delay charges Material restocking, cancellation or special-order charges Price escalation or material-availability adjustments Charges caused by homeowner delay, denied access or failure to prepare the work area Existing code violations or unrelated repairs required before final approval Utility, alarm, solar, air-conditioning or other third-party coordination charges Do not treat every fee as improper. Determine whether it is clearly disclosed, when it applies, and whether the amount or pricing method is stated. IF THIS IS A WINDOW-AND-DOOR PROJECT Evaluate: Removal of existing windows and doors Disposal of removed materials Existing window or door bucks Buck repair, replacement or modification Written buck-replacement prices Damaged concrete Structural repairs Header or opening modifications Mullions and reinforcement Exterior stucco repairs Interior drywall repairs Texture and paint matching Tile, flooring, countertop or backsplash damage Alarm and low-voltage disconnection or reconnection Window treatments Shutters or security bars Floor, furniture and landscaping protection Cleanup and sticker removal Screens and hardware Final product, size, configuration, color and glass selections Product substitutions Changes resulting from final measurements Code-required modifications IF THIS IS A ROOFING PROJECT Evaluate: Number of tear-off layers included Price for additional roof layers Plywood or roof-deck replacement Written price per sheet or defined unit Whether the decking price includes labor, material, removal and disposal Plank or tongue-and-groove decking Dimensional lumber rates Fascia and soffit repairs Rafters, trusses and structural carpentry Rotten-wood procedures Authorization limits or allowances Photographic documentation Code-required deck corrections Deck renailing Flashing Wall, chimney and stucco flashing repairs Pipe boots and roof penetrations Ventilation corrections Flat-roof transitions Drainage and slope corrections Tapered or additional insulation Solar-panel and air-conditioning coordination Gutters, screens, antennas and satellite dishes Interior protection during tear-off Tarping and weather protection Dumpster, disposal and cleanup charges Driveway, pool and landscaping protection Material delivery and crane charges Specialty or unavailable material substitutions Mold, termite or structural damage Warranty consequences associated with additional work ALSO CHECK FOR PROJECT-SPECIFIC OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES Identify work assigned to the homeowner or another company. Examples include moving furniture, removing blinds, disconnecting alarms, clearing access, protecting valuables, arranging solar or air-conditioning work, securing HOA approval, repainting, or completing repairs before inspection. For each responsibility, state: Who must perform it When it must be completed Whether a cost is stated What could happen if it is late or incomplete Whether it could delay installation, inspection, final payment or warranty coverage FOR EACH MATERIAL FINDING, RECORD: Status Exact contract language supporting the status Document name and page or section where it appears Why the item matters What remains uncertain What useful written clarification would look like A question I can send the contractor Do not quote unrelated contract language. If the document does not address an item, state “Not stated.” Never rewrite “Not stated” as “Excluded.” Check the full list before writing the report, but keep the homeowner-facing answer focused. Do not produce dozens of equally weighted warnings. Give detailed rows for unresolved, excluded, conflicting, unreadable, or high-impact items. Summarize clearly defined minor items together unless I ask for the full audit table. PRIORITIZE THE FINDINGS Prioritize unresolved items using: Potential financial significance Likelihood that the condition could arise Whether it was predictable enough to price or define beforehand Whether the homeowner retains written approval rights Whether a unit price or allowance limits uncertainty Whether responsibility is clearly assigned Whether the issue actually applies to this property and project A missing roof-decking price should generally receive more attention than an unclear satellite-dish provision when no satellite dish exists. PRODUCE THE FOLLOWING REPORT DOCUMENTS REVIEWED List what was reviewed. Identify missing, unsigned, conflicting, duplicated, cut-off, or unreadable material. State whether the review appears complete. SHORT ANSWER In no more than five sentences, explain how well the proposal defines the likely completed-project price. Write this section so a homeowner can understand it without construction experience. OVERALL CLASSIFICATION Use one of these labels: Costs Well Defined A Few Details Need Clarification Important Costs Remain Open Major Price Protections Are Missing Not Enough Information to Assess Do not provide a numerical score or percentage. PRICE-CERTAINTY SNAPSHOT Count the applicable items classified as: Included Limited by an allowance Written unit price provided Clearly excluded or homeowner responsibility Mentioned but unclear Not stated Unable to determine HIGHEST-PRIORITY ITEMS Identify no more than five items that should be resolved before signing. Explain why each was prioritized. For each one, label the practical effect as one or more of: Could increase price Homeowner must arrange or pay Could delay the project Approval rights are unclear Missing or conflicting document CONTROL OVER ADDITIONAL WORK Explain whether the agreement provides: Written notice Supporting documentation Written pricing Written homeowner approval Narrowly defined emergency exceptions Use one of these descriptions: Strong written control Basic written control Approval procedure needs clarification Contractor authority appears broad Unable to determine DETAILED FINDINGS Create a table with these columns: Issue Status Contract language Page or section Why it matters Needed clarification Separate universal terms, windows and doors, roofing and property-specific conditions. Include all material unresolved, excluded, conflicting, unreadable, and high-impact items. Summarize minor items that are clearly defined. If the table would exceed 25 rows, show the 25 most useful rows and offer to produce the complete table on request. QUESTIONS TO SEND THE CONTRACTOR Create a clean, personalized list based only on unresolved or clearly excluded items that require coordination. Put the most important questions first. Do not include generic questions about items that are already clearly addressed. Begin the message with: “I reviewed the proposal and would like to clarify the following items before moving forward. Please respond in writing and identify any proposal or contract revisions that apply.” TERMS THAT APPEAR WELL DEFINED Identify meaningful protections and inclusions in the contractor’s favor. Do not focus only on weaknesses. HOMEOWNER RESPONSIBILITIES AND DEADLINES List work, payments, approvals, access, preparations, third-party coordination, or deadlines assigned to me. Explain the stated consequence of missing each one. Do not invent a consequence that is not written. BEFORE-SIGNING SUMMARY Provide: Resolve before signing Worth confirming Already defined Missing documents Recommended next action FINAL SAFEGUARDS Apply the same standard regardless of which contractor prepared the proposal. If the proposal belongs to Bigfoot Windows & Roofing, do not give it favorable or unfavorable treatment. Do not determine whether contract language is legally enforceable. If the documents suggest an active dispute, substantial unexpected charges or a need to interpret legal rights, recommend review by a qualified construction attorney. If I tell you that I have already signed or work has started, do not continue to speak as if this is only a before-signing review. Separate what the documents say from practical questions I can ask now, and recommend legal advice only when the dispute or legal stakes justify it.

Begin by asking me to upload the proposal, contract and all referenced attachments.

After copying, open your AI assistant. These links only open the service in a new tab. You still need to paste the copied prompt and attach your documents there.

Each link opens in a new tab. Nothing is sent ahead for you.

Your Proposal Stays With You

Bigfoot does not receive, upload, analyze, or store your proposal through this tool. You copy the prompt and choose where to use it. Only upload documents you are comfortable sharing with your chosen AI provider, and review that provider's privacy terms before including personal or sensitive information.

How to Check a Roofing or Window Proposal for Costs That May Still Change

A proposal can show one total price while leaving some costs undecided. That does not mean the contractor has done anything wrong. Some damage cannot be seen until the old roof, windows, or doors are removed.

The key question is simple: Does the written agreement explain what happens if extra work is needed?

This tool gives you a neutral prompt to use with ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or another AI assistant. You send your documents directly to the platform you choose. The prompt asks the AI to show what is included, limited, left out, unclear, or not mentioned. It then creates a short list of questions for the contractor.

Bigfoot does not receive or analyze your proposal through this tool.

In this article

What does “change-order exposure” mean?
Are all change orders bad?
The amount may be unknown even when the price is defined
Five terms every homeowner should understand
Why written approval matters
Some extra charges may not be called a change order
Check what the homeowner must do
Common roofing change-order sources
Common impact-window and door change-order sources
Why the lowest proposal may not produce the lowest final price
What this tool can and cannot do
Does Bigfoot apply the same standards to itself?

What does “change-order exposure” mean?

“Change-order exposure” means that part of the job could cost more after you sign because the price, responsibility, or approval process is not clear. It does not mean a change order will happen. It does not mean the contractor plans to raise the price.

It means the proposal may not fully answer what happens if a particular condition is discovered or the original scope must change.

For example, a roofing proposal may say damaged plywood costs extra but give no price per sheet. A window proposal may mention repairs to the opening but leave the details unclear. It may not define small versus major repairs or explain how the price will be approved.

Those are questions worth resolving before work begins.

Are all change orders bad?

No. Many change orders are legitimate.

A homeowner may request a different product or add work after signing. Demolition may reveal damage that could not reasonably be seen before the contract. An inspector or engineer may require a correction that was not apparent during the original visit.

A detailed proposal cannot eliminate every surprise. It can, however, explain the process that will be followed when one occurs.

A clear written process answers four questions:

How will the contractor show me what was found?
How will the extra price be calculated?
Must I approve the work in writing?
When can urgent work continue without waiting for my approval?

The amount may be unknown even when the price is defined

The contractor may not know how much damaged decking exists until the old roof is removed. That does not prevent the proposal from stating a price per sheet of plywood or another defined unit.

The contractor may not know whether every existing window buck can be reused. The proposal can still explain whether new bucks are included, excluded, limited by an allowance, or charged at a written rate.

The contractor may not know the final amount of repair work. But the rate and approval steps can still be written down before the project starts. This gives both sides a clearer plan.

Five terms every homeowner should understand

These terms should not be treated as interchangeable.

Included means the item is part of the proposal price under the written scope.

Allowance means a stated amount or quantity is included. The agreement should also explain how an overage will be priced.

Unit price means the amount of work may be unknown, but the rate for each sheet, foot, hour, opening, or other unit is written down.

Excluded means the item is clearly left out of the contractor's price. The homeowner may still have to arrange or pay for it, but the responsibility is disclosed.

Not stated means the documents do not mention the item, or the reviewer could not find it. This is not the same as excluded.

Why written approval matters

A useful change-order process usually follows a clear sequence:

A condition is discovered.
Work pauses when reasonably possible.
The contractor documents the condition.
The homeowner receives a written price or pricing method.
The homeowner approves the additional work in writing.
The additional work proceeds.

There may be limited situations where immediate work is needed for safety, code compliance, or protection of the property. The agreement should describe those exceptions rather than giving unlimited authority to perform undefined additional work.

Some extra charges may not be called a change order

The final project cost can increase for reasons that are listed elsewhere in the contract. Examples may include storage, return trips, special engineering, payment-processing fees, material price changes, restocking, or delays caused by missing access or unfinished homeowner work.

These charges are not automatically unfair. The review should show when each charge can apply and whether the amount or pricing method is written down.

Check what the homeowner must do

Some proposals assign work to the homeowner or another company. You may need to move furniture, remove blinds, disconnect an alarm, arrange solar work, clear access, obtain approval, or repair another part of the home.

A useful review should list these duties, the deadline for each one, and any written consequence of missing the deadline. This can prevent delays even when the contractor's price is clear.

Common roofing change-order sources

Roofing proposals often differ in how they address:

Additional tear-off layers
Damaged plywood or roof decking
Plank or tongue-and-groove decking
Fascia, soffit, rafters, and trusses
Deck renailing and code-required corrections
Wall, chimney, and penetration flashing
Flat-roof transitions and drainage corrections
Solar panels and rooftop equipment
Gutters, antennas, and satellite dishes
Delivery, crane, dumpster, and disposal charges
Protection of the driveway, pool, landscaping, attic, and interior

One of these items may lead to a fair extra charge. The useful question is whether the proposal explains what is included, what may cost extra, and how the extra price will be handled.

Common impact-window and door change-order sources

Window and door proposals often differ in how they address:

Removal and disposal
Existing wood or concrete bucks
Damaged concrete
Headers and structural opening modifications
Mullions and reinforcement
Exterior stucco
Interior drywall, texture, and paint
Tile, flooring, countertops, and backsplashes near openings
Alarm equipment, window treatments, shutters, and security bars
Screens, hardware, and cleanup
Product substitutions
Changes after final measurement
Code-required modifications

Words such as “repair included” may still be unclear. A contractor may include a small drywall patch but not paint the whole wall or promise a perfect match to an older texture. The proposal should explain the finish the homeowner should expect.

Why the lowest proposal may not produce the lowest final price

Two proposals may show different totals because they include different work. The lower price may leave out permits, repairs, cleanup, paint, or other work included in the higher price.

That does not make the higher proposal automatically better. It means the totals should be compared together with the scope, exclusions, allowances, unit prices, and change-order process.

A clear proposal helps you understand what you are buying, what you may have to handle yourself, and which costs can still change.

What this tool can and cannot do

This tool can help an AI assistant organize the written terms and find missing details. It can separate items that are left out from items that are simply unclear. It can also create questions to ask before signing.

It cannot inspect your home, predict hidden damage, decide whether a price is fair, guarantee the final cost, or tell you whether a contract term can be enforced in court.

AI can make mistakes. Check important findings against the original documents. Ask the contractor to answer important questions in writing. If you are already in a serious dispute or need legal advice, speak with a qualified construction attorney.

Scanned documents can create another problem. Small print, handwriting, faint pages, tables, or cut-off text may not be read correctly. If the AI gives a quotation or page reference, compare it with the original. If it cannot read part of a document, ask for a clearer copy instead of treating that text as missing.

Does Bigfoot apply the same standards to itself?

Yes. This prompt is intentionally contractor-neutral and should evaluate a Bigfoot proposal by the same standards as any competing proposal.

This prompt applies the same standards to every contractor, including Bigfoot Windows & Roofing. If it identifies something unclear in our proposal, we would rather you ask us before signing than be surprised later.

If it identifies something unclear in our documents, we would rather you ask us about it before signing than be surprised later. That is part of what “We Build Trust” is supposed to mean.

Ready to review your proposal? Copy the prompt and use it privately with the AI assistant you prefer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a contractor charge more than the proposal price?

Additional charges may be permitted for owner-requested changes, concealed conditions, code requirements, or work excluded from the original scope. Whether and how those charges apply depends on the written agreement and applicable law. This tool identifies what the documents say; it does not determine legal enforceability.

Are change orders always a warning sign?

No. Some change orders are legitimate and unavoidable. The important protections are clear documentation, a defined pricing method, and written homeowner approval when reasonably possible.

What if the proposal does not mention an item?

An item that is not stated should not automatically be treated as included or excluded. Ask the contractor to clarify the responsibility and price in writing.

Is an excluded item the same as a hidden charge?

No. A clearly written exclusion discloses that the contractor is not including an item in the proposal price. The homeowner may still need to determine who will handle it and what it may cost.

What is a unit price?

A unit price establishes the cost for each defined unit, such as each sheet of plywood or each linear foot of repair. It defines the rate but not necessarily the total quantity that will be required.

What is an allowance?

An allowance includes a stated dollar amount or quantity for a particular item. If the project exceeds the allowance, the agreement should explain how the additional amount will be priced.

Should I rely on a verbal promise?

Important promises should be added to the proposal, contract, or signed attachment. A verbal explanation may be useful, but the written documents should reflect the agreement both parties expect to follow.

Can emergency work proceed without my approval?

Some agreements allow limited immediate work for safety, property protection, or legally required conditions. Those exceptions should be defined clearly rather than granting unlimited authority for additional work.

Can this tool predict rotten wood or structural damage?

No. Neither this page nor an AI document review can inspect concealed conditions. The prompt evaluates whether the proposal explains how those conditions will be documented, priced, and approved if discovered.

Does Bigfoot receive or store my proposal?

No. This page gives you a prompt to copy. You choose an external AI platform and provide your documents directly to that provider. Bigfoot does not receive the proposal through this tool.

Does the prompt treat Bigfoot differently from another contractor?

No. The prompt specifically requires the same standards for every contractor, including Bigfoot Windows & Roofing.

Is this legal advice?

No. This is an educational document-review aid. It does not determine whether a clause is enforceable or advise you about legal rights.

What should I do if I am already disputing a change order?

Preserve the proposal, contract, photographs, notices, messages, invoices, and change-order documents. Ask the contractor for a written explanation. If the amount is substantial or legal rights are disputed, consider consulting a qualified construction attorney.

What documents should I give the AI?

Include the proposal, contract, terms and conditions, scope sheets, product schedules, drawings, addenda, and any other attachment named in the agreement. If a document is missing, ask the contractor for it. Remove sensitive information the review does not need.

What if the proposal is a scan or photo?

The AI may misread small print, handwriting, faint pages, tables, or cut-off text. Compare important quotations and page references with the original. Ask for a clearer document when text cannot be verified.

Can the final cost increase without a document called a “change order”?

Yes. A contract may list storage, payment, engineering, restocking, delay, or coordination charges in other sections. The prompt asks the AI to identify those charges too.

Can I use this after I have signed?

Yes, but the purpose changes. Before signing, the tool helps you ask for clearer terms. After signing, it can help organize what the documents say, but it does not determine your legal rights or resolve a dispute.

Still Unsure What the Proposal Leaves Open?

A Bigfoot Project Advisor can help you understand which questions matter most—even if the proposal is from another contractor. This is a practical second opinion, not a legal review.

Ask Bigfoot for a Second Opinion

This page and the prompt are educational tools for reviewing documents. They are not legal advice, an inspection, or a promise about any contractor’s final price. Always check important findings against your original documents.