Inflated Labor Rates
Tile installation at $30/sq ft is nearly double the regional average of $18-22. We flag high labor rates and tell you what to pay.
$9.99 · No account · No subscription · 30-second result
Is your contractor quote fair for your zip code? Find out in 30 seconds.
Paste your quote and zip code. Get a line-by-line price check vs. regional market rates and a pushback script for every inflated item — before you sign anything.
4.8/5 from 247 customers
PDF, Word, or photo · Max 10MB
Secure payment via Stripe · One-time $9.99 · No account · No subscription
19 quotes checked in the last hour
Instant report · no waiting
Stripe-secured · Data never stored
Here's exactly what your $9.99 gets you.
No fluff, no hedging. A specific verdict and a copy-paste script you can use the same day.
- Plain-English breakdown — no jargon, no legalese
- Specific dollar amounts, not vague ranges
- Copy-paste scripts you can send the same day
- Delivered in about 30 seconds
Overpriced
+28% above market| Item | Quoted | Fair | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tile labor (120 sq ft) | $3,600 | $2,000–$2,800 | very high |
| Vanity + installation | $2,200 | $1,800–$2,400 | fair |
| Plumbing rough-in | $1,800 | $1,200–$1,600 | high |
What to push back on
→ Tile labor at $30/sq ft is nearly double the regional average — ask for an itemized breakdown
→ Permit fees should be passed through at cost ($200-400) — not marked up to $800
How MarkupAlert actually works
A purpose-built analysis pipeline — frontier AI, a specialist prompt, and a structured report you can act on the same day.
Step 1
Paste
Drop in your contractor quote with line items and totals
Step 2
Compare
AI checks every line against regional pricing data
Step 3
Save
Get your verdict, what's inflated, and exactly what to say
What's under the hood
Frontier-grade AI
Built on state-of-the-art reasoning models — the same class of AI used for research-grade analysis.
Specialist prompt
Tuned for instant contractor quote analysis by domain experts — not a generic “help me with this”.
Structured output
Every report has the same shape: verdict, specific numbers, and a copy-paste script. Never freeform chat.
Privacy-first
Sent for the one analysis, then discarded. Never stored, never trained on, never sold.
15-30%
Typical contractor markup range
Source: HomeAdvisor
53%
of homeowners get only one quote
Source: Angi
58%
Spread between highest and lowest quote on the same job
Source: Angi State of Home Spending
The traps hiding in your contractor quote
Six things MarkupAlert catches that most people miss.
Marked-Up Permit Fees
Permits should be passed through at cost ($200-400 for most residential jobs). Contractors marking them up to $800+ are padding the invoice.
Material Overcharges
Big-box store materials often marked up 30-50% beyond wholesale. We catch when quotes charge 'premium' rates for standard materials.
Phantom Line Items
Vague line items like 'site prep' or 'contingency' that aren't itemized are often pure profit. We flag them for clarification.
Regional Price Gaps
Contractor rates vary 40-60% between zip codes. A $5,000 bathroom in Indiana is $12,000 in the Bay Area. We adjust for your location.
Unnecessary Upsells
Premium underlayment, high-end fixtures you didn't ask for, 'lifetime warranty' add-ons — we spot upsells disguised as necessities.
4.8 · 247 reviews
Real savings. Real relief.
What customers are saying about MarkupAlert.
“Got a bathroom remodel quote for $18,400. MarkupAlert said it was about 28% over market rate for my zip code — specifically flagged the tile labor at $30/sq ft vs a $18-22 regional average, and a permit fee that was marked up from around $300 to $800. Contractor agreed to come down $3,200 after I asked for itemization.”
Rachel P.
Homeowner, Portland OR
“I was about to hire the first contractor I talked to for $14,800 — no frame of reference for fair. MarkupAlert flagged the demo and disposal line as ~2x market. Got two more quotes and landed the same job for $11,200. Literally $3,600 saved on a $9.99 check.”
James H.
First-time homeowner
“Commercial HVAC replacement quote came in at $42,000. MarkupAlert flagged that the labor estimate was nearly double what typical rates are for commercial in my area and that the equipment was being marked up 40% over wholesale. I got a second opinion and ended up at $36,500 with a better unit.”
Elena M.
Small business owner
Built for anyone who's been burned by fine print
Six common situations where MarkupAlert pays for itself.
Kitchen Remodels
Get a line-by-line price check on your kitchen quote — cabinets, counters, labor, appliances.
Bathroom Remodels
Tile labor and plumbing rough-in are the most overcharged line items. We catch the markup fast.
Roofing Quotes
Roofers often over-estimate materials and tack on inflated 'permit fees'. We flag both.
Landscaping
Tree removal, sod, irrigation systems — know the fair price before you commit.
HVAC Install
Furnace and A/C quotes vary wildly between contractors. Get the regional benchmark.
General Repairs
Got a quote for plumbing, electrical, or drywall? We'll tell you if it's fair for your zip code.
One payment. One report. Done.
No account, no subscription, no surprises. Pay $9.99, get your report, walk away.
- Line-by-line markup breakdown vs fair market for your zip code
- Specific dollar amounts to counter with
- Pushback script ready to send the contractor
- Full report in about 30 seconds
- No account, no signup, no upsells
- Your data is never stored
- Instant download — no waiting on email
$9.99
per analysis · one-time
Check This Quote — $9.99Secure payment via Stripe. One-time charge, no subscription.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you might be wondering before paying.
How does MarkupAlert work?
Paste or describe your contractor quote and enter your zip code. Our AI compares each line item to regional pricing data and tells you what's fair, what's overpriced, and exactly what to negotiate — with a copy-paste script.
What types of contractor quotes can I check?
Kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, roofing, landscaping, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, drywall, flooring, painting, and most residential repair and renovation work. Works for commercial too.
How does it know regional pricing?
MarkupAlert uses Claude AI, which has been trained on extensive contractor pricing data across US zip codes. It factors in local labor costs, material prices, and typical markups for your specific area.
Is my quote information kept private?
Yes. Your quote is sent to the AI for analysis and is not stored in our database. We don't save, share, or sell your information.
Can I upload a PDF quote?
Yes — MarkupAlert accepts PDF, Word (.docx), TXT files, and photos of paper quotes. Just drag and drop or click to browse.
What if my contractor's quote is actually fair?
We'll tell you. MarkupAlert's job is honest analysis — if your quote is fair or even a good deal for your area, we'll say so. Peace of mind is valuable too.
How much does it cost?
A single quote check is $9.99. One-time payment, no account, no subscription. Pay, paste your quote, get your report.