Price matters, but it is not the only difference between two proposals. One contractor may include excavation, drainage and proper base preparation while another leaves those details vague. Before comparing totals, make sure you are comparing the same work.
Who will design and manage the work?
Ask who prepares the plan, who will be on site and who has authority to make decisions. Clear responsibility matters when questions come up—and they always do.
What exactly is included?
Review quantities, dimensions, materials, base depths, disposal, restoration and cleanup. If a detail is important, it should be written down. Assumptions are where many disagreements begin.
How will drainage and elevations be handled?
Ask where water goes, how grades will change and what elevation reference will guide the work. Patios, walls, steps and structures should be coordinated from the same benchmark.
How are changes approved and priced?
A change-order process protects both sides. You should understand who can authorize a change, how it will affect cost and whether it changes the schedule before the extra work begins.
What are the payment and warranty terms?
Know the deposit, progress-payment schedule, final-payment conditions and what the warranty covers. Ask how plant losses, material defects, drainage concerns and damage caused by weather or other trades are handled.
Can I see comparable work?
Look for projects similar in scope and complexity—not only the contractor's most attractive photographs. References can tell you how the company communicated, handled problems and finished the last few details.
The simple takeaway
A good contractor should welcome clear questions. You are not trying to make the conversation difficult. You are trying to make the project predictable before the yard is opened up and decisions become expensive.