Send every provider the same property sketch, photos, desired pad size and feature list. Ask for a marked response. A proposal that changes the project should explain the reason and price effect.
Read each line out loud. Circle a vague word. Ask what it means on your site. Write the answer beside the line. Put the final answer in the signed scope.
What should be compared first?
Read the scope before the total. Check these lines in order:
- Property measurements, boundaries and utility assumptions.
- Equipment access, protection and restoration.
- Clearing, demolition, excavation, cut, fill and haul-off.
- Soil treatment, aggregate and compaction.
- Court and surrounding drainage from inlet to outlet.
- Concrete, asphalt or other base details.
- Playing surface products, layers, colors and lines.
- Posts, net, anchors and ball containment.
- Fence, gates, coatings and windscreens.
- Lighting, electrical path, controls and review.
- Applications, fees, inspections and records.
- Cleanup, care instructions and correction process.
Use the complete construction guide for detail.
How should unknown conditions be shown?
Mark each as included allowance, unit price, owner duty or change risk. Examples include rock, buried debris, unsuitable soil, unknown utilities, extra fill and an unconfirmed drainage outlet.
A unit price can help when quantity is the only unknown. It should name the unit, measurement method and approval process. A general reserve should not replace clear prices for foreseeable work.
Which base details make quotes comparable?
Ask for the finished pad size, aggregate, concrete or asphalt thickness, edge, slope, reinforcement or joint approach, surface finish and required wait before coating. Record which company accepts the base.
If one proposal uses post-tensioned concrete and another uses ordinary concrete or asphalt, they are different systems. Compare intended performance, repair path and cost rather than treating the material names as equal.
Which surface details should be written?
Name the manufacturer or system, preparation, repair, layers, texture, cushion, colors and line layout. For modular products, name the base requirement, edge, seams, drainage and replacement method.
Ask for care instructions and the written defect-reporting process. Do not copy a repair or coverage term from marketing into the comparison unless it appears in the actual proposal for this project.
How should provider background be checked?
Confirm the legal business name, current state authorization where the project value requires it, insurance evidence, recent comparable courts and who performs earthwork, base, surfacing, fence and electrical work. Ask for addresses of projects you may view only with permission.
The North Carolina board says projects of $40,000 or more require an authorized general contractor. Search the contracting entity, not only the brand name.
What should the payment schedule follow?
Tie payments to defined results. Avoid a schedule based only on dates. A useful set might follow approved layout, completed earthwork, accepted base, finished surface, installed features and closed final list.
Material deposits should identify the product, refund terms and ownership. Keep every payment and change in writing.
How do you compare time promises?
Place the court timeline beside each proposal. Check whether planning, approvals, product lead time, weather days, curing, surfacing and closeout are inside or outside the stated duration.
A four-week on-site period may begin after months of owner-led work. That can be valid when it is clear.
Use a one-page decision table
| Decision | Provider A | Provider B | Provider C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total playing surface | |||
| Site and access work | |||
| Drainage route | |||
| Base system | |||
| Playing finish | |||
| Fence and gates | |||
| Lights and electrical | |||
| Approval duties | |||
| Main exclusions | |||
| Change process | |||
| Payment points | |||
| Closeout duties |
Add the 2026 cost worksheet when the scope matches.
Before you decide, check the legal name on the quote. Check the site address. Check the pad size. Check the surface. Check the start rule and payment dates. Ask what happens if the yard holds bad soil or water. The reply should name the notice, price and time effect.
Frequently asked questions
How many quotes should I obtain?
There is no required number. Obtain enough comparable detail to understand the site, system and market. Two complete proposals can teach more than four vague totals.
Is an itemized quote always better?
It is easier to review, but the items must still describe real quantities, systems and duties.
Should I sign before local approval?
The contract should state which approvals remain, who obtains them and what happens if the accepted layout must change.