# Exclusion

*Also called: exclusions, excluded work, not included.*

**Definition.** An exclusion is work a contractor has explicitly stated their price does not cover. Exclusions are a legitimate and normal part of a bid — the danger is not that they exist, but that they are easy to miss.

Common exclusions on property work: permits and permit fees, disposal of hazardous material, repairs to rot or structural damage found after demolition, painting after a repair, moving furniture or tenant belongings, and anything an inspector requires that was not visible at bid time.

Exclusions usually appear as a short list at the end of a proposal, in smaller type than the price. Two bidders can exclude entirely different things and neither is being dishonest — but the bid that excludes more will always look cheaper.

The right response to an exclusion is not to reject the bidder. It is to price the excluded item, decide who carries it, and put the answer in writing before work starts.

## Why it matters

Exclusions are where the price difference between bids usually lives. A quote that excludes permits, disposal and deck repair on a roof job can easily sit 30% below one that includes them, and the difference will be billed to you anyway — later, at the contractor's number rather than a competitive one.

## Related terms

- [Bid leveling](https://quotrium.com/glossary/bid-leveling)
- [Change order](https://quotrium.com/glossary/change-order)
- [Allowance](https://quotrium.com/glossary/allowance)
- [Scope of work](https://quotrium.com/glossary/scope-of-work)

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Source: https://quotrium.com/glossary/exclusion · Quotrium — Comparable quotes for property work