Most homeowners only hire a demolition contractor once, so there's no way to know what a normal quote looks like. The total is the one number everybody looks at, and it's the least useful one. What matters is what's inside it, what's been left out, and what happens when the crew finds something nobody expected.
Line by line
Where the difference between quotes usually hides
| Item | How a low quote often handles it | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Permit | Listed as extra, or left to you as an owner-builder permit. | Who pulls the permit, who pays the fees, and who closes it out at the end? |
| Utilities | Not mentioned at all. | Who requests the disconnect letters, caps the sewer or abandons the septic tank, and recovers the AC refrigerant? |
| Asbestos | Assumed to be someone else's problem. | Is the survey or county paperwork included? What happens if something tests positive? |
| Slab and footings | "House only," with the slab left in the ground. | Is the slab coming out, and the footings? To what depth? |
| Everything else on the lot | Priced for the house and nothing more. | Are the pool, driveway, patio, shed, fences and trees included, or extra? |
| Debris | Priced per load or per dumpster, so the final number is open ended. | Is hauling a fixed price? Will I get disposal tickets? |
| Finished lot | Left rough, with holes where the slab and footings were. | Is clean fill, grading and the final inspection included? |
A quote can be honest and still leave things out. The point isn't to catch anyone, it's to make sure you're comparing the same job.
Watch for these
Red flags in a cheap demolition quote
No license number
A Florida contractor's license number should be on the quote. If it's missing, ask for it and look it up before anything else.
"Pull it in your name"
If the company asks you to get an owner-builder permit for a job they're running, they usually can't pull one themselves. That puts the permit and the liability on you.
A big deposit up front
In Florida, a contractor who takes more than 10 percent of the price up front on residential work has to apply for the permit within 30 days and start within 90 days after it's issued. A large deposit with no timeline is a warning sign.
One line, one number
"Demolish house, $X" tells you nothing about what's included. When something comes up, there's nothing to point to.
No plan for surprises
Every old house hides something. A quote with no mention of how changes are priced will usually find a way to price them later.
Doing it right
How to get demolition quotes you can actually compare
Write down what you want gone
House, slab, pool, driveway, shed, trees. And how you want the lot left: rough, or filled, graded and ready for a builder. Send the same list to everyone.
Have each company see the property
A quote over the phone or from photos is a guess. Access, overhead lines, neighbors and what the house is built from all change the price.
Ask for an itemized quote
Permit, utilities, asbestos, demolition, hauling, fill and grading as separate lines, or at least clearly listed as included or excluded.
Ask how surprises are handled
Buried debris, an old septic tank, extra asbestos. A good quote names allowances or explains that changes are priced in writing before the work is done.
Check the company, not just the price
Look up the license, ask for a certificate of insurance sent from the agent, and tie payments to work that's actually been completed.
Before you sign
When the higher quote is the better deal
It includes the paperwork
Permits, utility letters and the final inspection can take more of your time than the demolition itself. A quote that handles all of it saves weeks.
It leaves the lot ready
If you're building next, a lot that's filled, graded and closed out lets your builder start. A rough lot means paying someone else to finish the job.
The total won't move
A fixed price with clear allowances is easier to budget than a low number that grows load by load.
Related
Keep reading
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Why do demolition quotes vary so much?
Usually because they don't include the same work. Permits, utility disconnects, asbestos, slab and footing removal, the pool and driveway, hauling and final grading can each be included, excluded or priced as extras. Compare quotes line by line before comparing totals.
How many demolition quotes should I get?
Three is a good number. Give each company the same written scope and have each one see the property, so the quotes are for the same job.
What should a demolition quote include?
The contractor's name and Florida license number, who pulls and closes the permit, utility disconnects and the sewer cap or septic abandonment, asbestos responsibilities, what's being removed including slab and footings, hauling with disposal tickets, how the lot will be left, the payment schedule and how changes are handled.
How much deposit is normal for demolition in Florida?
It varies, but Florida law adds protection when a contractor takes more than 10 percent of the price up front on residential work: they have to apply for the permit within 30 days and start within 90 days after it's issued, unless you agreed in writing to a longer time. Payments tied to completed work protect you best.
Should a demolition quote be free?
Most demolition contractors give written quotes at no charge after seeing the property. Larger commercial jobs may involve a paid survey or engineering first, but that should be explained up front.
This article is general information, not legal advice. It references section 489.126, Florida Statutes, as of October 2026. Talk to an attorney about your specific contract.