Proposal Scope Comparison

The scope criteria in full

Every criterion the comparison uses, with what a proposal can state about it and what its absence does and does not mean. Readable without the tool, so a homeowner can work through a proposal on paper.

Work area, described by start and end point (Scope and the evidence behind it)

This is the single field that determines whether two proposals are comparable at all. "The sewer line" is not a work area. A proposal can state: A start point and an end point — for example, from a named access point to the connection — and the approximate length between them. If it is silent: A proposal without a stated work area cannot be compared to another one. It does not mean the contractor intends to do less; it means nobody has written down what is intended. Do not conclude: A larger stated work area does not establish that a proposal is more thorough, and a smaller one does not establish that it is cutting corners.

The condition or evidence the work is priced against (Scope and the evidence behind it)

Work priced against an observation can be checked. Work priced against an impression cannot. A proposal can state: Which inspection, on what date, showing what, at what location — and whether the contractor performed it or is relying on someone else’s. If it is silent: Silence here does not mean no evidence exists. It may mean the contractor considered it obvious. It also does not establish that the work is unnecessary. Do not conclude: A proposal referencing evidence does not establish that the evidence supports the scope, and SewerOwner cannot assess whether it does.

Access point the work is performed from (Scope and the evidence behind it)

The access point determines what the work can reach, and whether an existing access point is usable is sometimes itself a cost. A proposal can state: Which access point will be used, and whether creating one is inside or outside the price. If it is silent: Not stated does not mean an access point exists. On some properties the absence of one is discovered on the day. Do not conclude: The use of an access point does not establish that the work covers the full line.

Cleaning included or excluded (Scope and the evidence behind it)

Cleaning is frequently a prerequisite for both inspection and lining, and is frequently priced separately. A proposal can state: Whether cleaning is included, what method, and whether the price changes if the line does not clear. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that cleaning is included, nor that it is unnecessary for the proposed work. Do not conclude: Cleaning being included does not establish that the line will be left in any particular condition.

Camera inspection before the work (Scope and the evidence behind it)

A pre-work inspection establishes the starting condition, which is what any later disagreement gets measured against. A proposal can state: Whether an inspection is performed before work, whether footage is provided, and whether it is inside the price. If it is silent: Silence does not mean no inspection will occur; some contractors inspect as a matter of course without itemising it. Do not conclude: A pre-work inspection does not establish that the proposed scope is correct.

Camera inspection after the work (Completion and documentation)

A post-work recording is the record that the work produced what was described, and it is the baseline for the next decade. A proposal can state: Whether a post-work inspection is performed, whether footage is provided to the homeowner, and in what form. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that no inspection will occur, but a post-work recording you were not promised is one you may not receive. Do not conclude: Post-work footage does not establish that the work was performed correctly or will perform over time.

Locating the line (Scope and the evidence behind it)

Where the line runs determines which surfaces are disturbed, which is usually the largest visible consequence of the job. A proposal can state: Whether a locate is performed, by whom, and whether route and depth will be recorded. If it is silent: Not stated does not establish that the route is known. It may have been assumed from the building’s layout. Do not conclude: A locate does not establish exact pipe position or depth, and does not establish the position of other buried services.

Assumption about pipe material (Access, site, and assumptions)

Material affects which methods apply and how work proceeds. An assumption here can move a price after work begins. A proposal can state: What material is assumed, how it was established, and what happens if it differs. If it is silent: Silence does not mean the material is known. It is one of the most commonly assumed variables in a sewer price. Do not conclude: A stated material assumption does not establish that the assumption is correct.

Assumption about depth (Access, site, and assumptions)

Depth drives excavation cost and complexity, and it typically increases toward the connection. A proposal can state: The assumed depth range, how it was established, and the effect of greater depth on price. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that depth is known, and depth is one of the most common sources of change orders. Do not conclude: A depth assumption does not establish the actual depth at any point along the run.

Assumption about length (Access, site, and assumptions)

Length drives price directly, and estimated lengths are frequently based on a camera reading rather than a surface measurement. A proposal can state: The assumed length, what it was derived from, and how the price responds if it differs. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that the length is known. Do not conclude: A camera distance reading does not establish a surface distance or a property coordinate.

Assumptions about soil, groundwater, and dewatering (Access, site, and assumptions)

Ground conditions can change excavation method, timescale, and cost substantially once work is open. A proposal can state: What conditions are assumed, whether dewatering is included, and what happens if water is encountered. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that conditions are known or that dewatering is included. Do not conclude: A stated assumption does not establish what will actually be found.

Assumptions about obstructions (Access, site, and assumptions)

Other buried services, foundations, and unexpected structures along the route change what can be done and how. A proposal can state: What is assumed about obstructions, who arranges utility locating, and what happens if something is encountered. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that the route is clear. Do not conclude: Utility locating does not establish that every buried service has been identified.

Site access and working space (Access, site, and assumptions)

Equipment has to reach the work area. Narrow access, gates, slopes, and neighbouring boundaries all affect method and price. A proposal can state: What access is assumed, what equipment will be brought, and what route it will take across the property. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that access has been assessed. Do not conclude: Access being described does not establish that no damage will occur along the access route.

Hazardous-material exclusions (Access, site, and assumptions)

If something requiring specialist handling is encountered, both the scope and the responsible party can change. A proposal can state: What is excluded, and what the process is if such material is encountered. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that such work is included, and it is rarely included. Do not conclude: An exclusion does not establish that such material is present or absent.

Permits (Permits and coordination)

A permit produces an independent record, and its cost and application may sit inside or outside the price. A proposal can state: Whether a permit is required, who applies, whether the fee is included, and who receives the closeout. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that no permit is required, and it does not establish that the fee is included. Do not conclude: A permit being obtained does not establish that the work is appropriate or well performed.

Coordination with the sewer authority (Permits and coordination)

Work at or near the connection, or in a right of way, may require the operating authority’s involvement. A proposal can state: Whether coordination is included, who arranges it, and what happens if the authority takes a different view of responsibility. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that coordination is unnecessary. Do not conclude: A contractor’s statement about the authority’s position does not establish that position.

Utility locating before excavation (Permits and coordination)

Marking other buried services before digging is a safety step with a defined process. A proposal can state: Who arranges it, when, and how the work responds to what is marked. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that it will not happen; it is often treated as assumed. Do not conclude: Locating does not establish that all buried services have been found.

Excavation limits (Method-specific detail)

How much is opened determines both cost and the restoration that follows. A proposal can state: The extent of excavation, where it starts and stops, and what is done if it must extend further. If it is silent: Silence does not establish the extent of excavation. Do not conclude: Limited excavation does not establish limited disruption; access routes and equipment also affect surfaces.

Lining preparation (Method-specific detail)

Lining depends on the host pipe being prepared, and preparation is frequently a separate line item or a separate assumption. A proposal can state: What preparation is included, and what happens if the host pipe cannot be prepared adequately. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that preparation is included. Do not conclude: Preparation being included does not establish that lining will be feasible.

Lining limits and branch connections (Method-specific detail)

Where a liner starts and stops, and how any branch connection within that length is handled, determines what the finished system looks like. A proposal can state: The lined length, and the specific treatment of any connection within it. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that no branch connections fall within the lined length. Do not conclude: A lined length does not establish anything about the condition of the pipe outside it.

Reinstating service connections (Method-specific detail)

Where branches join the run being lined or replaced, they have to be dealt with explicitly. A proposal can state: Which connections are affected, how each is reinstated, and whether that is verified afterwards. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that no connections are affected. Do not conclude: Reinstatement being described does not establish that it will be verified unless verification is stated.

Access pit locations (Method-specific detail)

Trenchless replacement still disturbs the surface at the pits, and pit location is frequently under-specified. A proposal can state: Where each pit will be, its approximate size, and what surface it affects. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that pits will be small or unobtrusive. Do not conclude: "Trenchless" does not establish that no significant surface disturbance will occur.

Spot repair location (Method-specific detail)

A targeted repair only makes sense if everyone agrees where the target is. A proposal can state: The location, measured from a stated reference point, and how it will be confirmed on site. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that the location is agreed. Do not conclude: A stated location does not establish that the condition is confined to that point.

Cleanout work (Method-specific detail)

Whether an access point is added, replaced, or left alone affects every future inspection. A proposal can state: What cleanout work is included, where it will be positioned, and what the finished cover will be. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that existing access will remain usable after the work. Do not conclude: A new cleanout does not establish that the full line becomes inspectable.

Landscaping removal (Restoration)

Planting along the route may have to be removed, and mature planting is not replaceable in kind. A proposal can state: What will be removed, and whether anything is replaced. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that planting is unaffected. Do not conclude: Removal being mentioned does not establish that replacement is included.

Hardscape removal (Restoration)

Driveways, patios, and walkways are among the most expensive things to put back, and cost differs sharply by material. A proposal can state: Which hard surfaces will be removed and how much of each. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that hard surfaces are unaffected. Do not conclude: Removal being included does not establish that restoration is.

Backfill and compaction (Restoration)

What goes back into the trench determines whether the surface above it stays level. A proposal can state: What material is used for backfill and what compaction is performed. If it is silent: Silence does not establish the backfill approach, and it is the part of the job you cannot inspect afterwards. Do not conclude: Compaction being described does not establish that settlement will not occur.

Pavement and concrete restoration (Restoration)

Restoring a paved surface is often the largest single restoration cost and the most visible outcome. A proposal can state: Which surfaces are restored, by what method, and to what standard. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that a paved surface will be restored, and it does not establish that it is excluded. Do not conclude: Restoration being included does not establish that the finished surface will match the surrounding area.

Landscaping restoration (Restoration)

Restoring soft landscaping ranges from filling and seeding to full replacement, at very different costs. A proposal can state: What restoration is performed and to what standard, and any seasonal constraint. If it is silent: Silence does not establish the standard, and "restore to original condition" does not establish it either. Do not conclude: A restoration clause does not establish that the result will resemble what was there before.

Interior restoration (Restoration)

Where work comes inside the building, floor finishes and fixtures are affected and are frequently excluded. A proposal can state: What interior work is involved, what is restored, and what is excluded. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that interior restoration is included; it commonly is not. Do not conclude: Interior work being included does not establish that interior finishes are restored.

Debris removal (Restoration)

Spoil and removed material has to go somewhere, and disposal is sometimes separate. A proposal can state: Whether removal and disposal are included, and what is left on site. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that removal is included. Do not conclude: Debris removal being included does not establish that the site will be restored.

Testing or verification after the work (Completion and documentation)

Verification produces a record that the work performs as described, at the moment it was completed. A proposal can state: What testing or verification is performed, by what procedure, and what record results. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that no verification occurs, but an unrecorded test is not evidence you hold. Do not conclude: A passed test does not establish long-term performance.

Permit closeout (Completion and documentation)

An open permit surfaces years later, usually during a sale, and is expensive to resolve then. A proposal can state: Who closes the permit out, and whether the homeowner receives the closeout record. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that closeout will happen. Do not conclude: Closeout does not establish that the work was performed well.

Final documentation and video (Completion and documentation)

What you are left holding is what you can use in ten years, at a sale, or in a warranty claim. A proposal can state: Exactly what documents and recordings the homeowner receives, and in what form. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that documentation will be provided. Do not conclude: Receiving documentation does not establish that the work matches it.

Change-order process (Commercial terms)

This is the mechanism that turns an underground surprise into a bill, and it is agreed before work rather than during it. A proposal can state: When the price can change, what notice is given, whether approval is required, and whether there is a cap. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that the price is fixed. Do not conclude: A change-order clause does not establish that any particular change order is justified.

Warranty terms as written (Commercial terms)

What is covered, what is excluded, what you must do to keep it valid, and whether it transfers. A proposal can state: The full written terms, rather than a duration. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that no warranty is offered. Do not conclude: A longer warranty does not establish better work, and SewerOwner cannot assess whether any warranty will be honoured.

Stated exclusions (Commercial terms)

An explicit exclusion is clearer than silence and is easier to price against elsewhere. A proposal can state: A list of what is not included. If it is silent: No exclusions listed does not establish that everything is included. Do not conclude: A longer exclusions list does not establish a worse proposal; it may establish a clearer one.

Homeowner responsibilities (Commercial terms)

What you are expected to arrange, move, or be present for affects both cost and schedule. A proposal can state: What the homeowner must do, and by when. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that nothing is expected of you. Do not conclude: A short list of homeowner responsibilities does not establish that the job requires nothing from you.

Payment schedule (Commercial terms)

When money changes hands relative to work performed and inspected is a term worth reading rather than assuming. A proposal can state: The schedule, what each stage is tied to, and what is retained until completion. If it is silent: Silence does not establish standard terms. Do not conclude: A payment schedule does not establish anything about the quality of the work.

Financing statements as written (Commercial terms)

Where financing is offered, its terms are a separate agreement from the work. A proposal can state: What is offered, by whom, and on what written terms. If it is silent: Silence does not establish that financing is available. Do not conclude: SewerOwner does not assess, recommend, or comment on any financing arrangement.

Start timing as stated (Commercial terms)

A stated start date is a commitment or an estimate, and which one it is matters. A proposal can state: When work would start, whether that is committed or estimated, and what it depends on. If it is silent: Silence does not establish availability. Do not conclude: An earlier start does not establish a better proposal, and SewerOwner does not assess availability.

Completion assumptions as stated (Commercial terms)

How long the property is disrupted matters, particularly where access or drainage is affected. A proposal can state: The expected duration, what it assumes, and whether drainage is usable throughout. If it is silent: Silence does not establish a duration. Do not conclude: A stated duration does not establish how long the work will actually take.