Be specific about scope, attach photos or drawings, set a realistic budget range, and give a 14-day bidding window. Jobs with documents receive noticeably more accurate quotes — vague posts attract vague prices.

Look at the contractor's rating, review history, and message quality alongside the price. Ask each bidder about timeline, materials, and what's excluded. A bid 15% higher with a paper trail of happy clients usually costs less in the end.

Confirm insurance and licensing directly, get the scope in a written contract, agree on a payment schedule tied to milestones (never large upfront amounts), and confirm who pulls permits. QuoteHive verifies documents at signup, but your own diligence protects you.

Complete your profile, get verified fast, and write personal bid messages — name the project specifics, your availability, and a reference. Bids placed in the first 24 hours of a posting win disproportionately often.

Bids cost 1 credit for small jobs up to 12 credits for $500K+ tenders. Buy packs to lower your per-credit cost. Because every bidder is verified and pays to bid, you compete against serious pros — not a free-for-all of unqualified leads.

After every hire, ask the client to leave a review when the work wraps. Profiles with 3+ reviews and a ★4.5 average win bids at materially higher rates — your review page is your portfolio.