Despite the good and the bad, you have to have subs, and you need to have them give you bids. You need 3 bids for each job, so you need to have 3 different subs to choose from, and ask for bids from. These bids are the foundation of your project staying on budget, and coming in at a reasonable final price, so they are very important, so you want to get them as detailed and accurate as possible. To give you a better idea of their importance you need to realize that getting detailed accurate bids is the only way you are going to be able to A) compare the bids to each other, and B) save money!

If you can't compare bids to each other there is no point in getting more than one. And if you only get one bid you might as well start flushing your money down the toilet because that is what you are essentially doing by not looking around. So, if you want detailed accurate bidding you need to do the following:

• Provide the same detailed specs and plans to each contractor you have selected to give you a bid: the more detailed and absolute your plans are the closer the bid is going to be to realistic because the more the sub knows about what you will require of them. If they know what you require of them they know how they want to be compensated for that. So, use blueprints, specs, photos, magazine cut-outs, whatever it takes to provide as much detail as you can to each sub.
• Determine who pays for materials, when and how, and verify the quality and quantity: some bids include items others don't, so make sure when you look at bids that the bid is clear about who pays for what, and what happens when the quality and quantity are not what is expected. If you clarify this before you hire a sub, you will have less problems later.
• Keep a log of who you've ask for bids from, and follow up as needed to get the bids in: if you want to get good, detailed, and accurate bids, you need to follow up on them. You can't do that if you don't keep track of who you have asked for what. Take the time to organize your requests and follow-up on them, this ensures you will get bids that work.
• Set a deadline for accepting preliminary bids, and make sure everyone knows it: while you want detailed bids you do not want to wait forever to get them, so set a deadline and you will get your bids back, and they will fit your needs better than if you just request and attach no requirement to when you want it back. The sub will get to it when they get to it, and you don't want that.
• Once bids are all in, review them, if anything is unclear ask for clarification; if any aren't competitive ask them to resubmit: you will get better, more detailed, and more accurate bids if you clarify any misunderstandings, and ask for better, more competitive bids.
• Make sure all bids are on the same set of plans and specs, and that the bids are in writing and signed: you will only be able to compare bids from various subs if the bid information is from the same set of plans and specs.

If you do the above things chances are your bids will be accurate and competitive! You want to give each sub plenty of time to prepare detailed bids for you. This is great because you get the benefit of their thoughtful consideration of your project. Then, you need to take just as much time to follow up with them, examine their bids, and determine when you can refine your plans and tighten your budget.