A flooring quote can mean very different things depending on the company. At minimum, ask whether the number you’re given covers materials, labor, removal and disposal of your old flooring, and any subfloor prep or leveling — these are the most common items that get left off a low-ball estimate and added back in later.

Also ask specifically about trim and transition pieces (thresholds between rooms, stair nosing), whether furniture moving is included or billed separately, and what happens if the crew finds subfloor damage once your old flooring is pulled up — a reputable installer will have a clear answer for how that’s handled and priced, rather than an open-ended ‘we’ll see.’

A written estimate that spells out each of these separately, rather than one lump number, is generally a good sign — it means there’s less room for the final bill to drift from what you were told upfront.