Are you comparing contracts or bids? I would suggest hiring a lawyer or someone knowledgable in the workings of the residential construction industry. Contracts can be difficult to compare because each contractor may have a slightly different way of doing business or intentions with wording. Someone who has experience in the industry will be able to have a general knowledge of how things should be done, and will be able to offer advice and look for any key signifiers to watch out for.

If you are looking for how to compare bids, it is important to understand that the level of detail in the plans hugely impacts the variance in pricing. The more detailed the plans, the easier and more accurate the pricing between the contractors. It could be helpful to provide your own template for the contractors to use so the bids can be seen on a level playing fields.

Hope this is helpful, good luck with your project!