01DOCUMENT
We rate the document
SII assesses whether the quotation is clear, complete, and traceable. It does not score the contractor, designer, or supplier.
DOCUMENT MATURITY01—05
SII RATING SYSTEM / LEVEL 1–5
We don't rate contractors.We assess the document.
SII Level 1–5 shows whether a renovation or construction quotation has enough structure to be read, compared, and reviewed before you sign or pay.
A higher Level means a more mature document. It does not mean a better contractor, and it does not mean zero project risk.
1Insufficient Information
2Basic Structure
3Reviewable
4Structurally Complete
5Review Ready
INFORMATION GAPSREVIEW READINESS
WHAT THE LEVEL MEANS
Understand the rating
before you rely on the Level.
SII Level 1–5 is not a contractor score. It describes how a quotation progresses from insufficient information to a mature basis for review.
02MATURITY
The Level indicates maturity
A higher Level means the document provides a stronger basis for reading, comparison, discussion, and further review.
03NOT A GUARANTEE
A high Level is not a guarantee
Level 5 does not guarantee workmanship, performance, legal outcomes, or the absence of future disputes.
FIVE LEVELS OF DOCUMENT MATURITY
Where does your quotation
stand today?
Select Level 1–5 to see what each stage means, the signals commonly found there, and what should happen next.
MORE INFORMATION GAPSHIGHER REVIEW READINESS
03
Ready for meaningful comparisonLEVEL 3
Reviewable
REVIEWABLE
Most major items and prices have a usable structure. Initial review and comparison are possible, but some specifications, responsibility boundaries, or performance terms still require clarification before commitment.
CURRENT STATUSA usable basis for review and comparison
COMMON SIGNALS
Major items, quantities, and unit prices are generally available, revealing the budget structure.
A smaller number of important specifications or responsibility terms remain unclear.
The document can support comparison, but key points still need a second check before signing.
SII / LEVEL 3Comparable does not mean ready to sign.
LEVEL 4 VS. LEVEL 5
The most common confusion:
Level 4 versus Level 5.
Level 4 means the document structure is already strong. Level 5 goes further by creating a more mature basis for final cross-checking and review.
04
LEVEL 4Structurally Complete
Major items, pricing, materials, and performance terms are well structured and can support deeper comparison, although a small number of exceptions or responsibility details may still need work.
CORE IDEAMost of what should be there is already documented.
05
LEVEL 5Review Ready
Beyond completeness, key prices, scope, materials, and responsibilities are more consistent and traceable, making the document better suited to final verification and decision-making.
CORE IDEANot only complete—better prepared for final verification.
FOUR REVIEW DIMENSIONS
What drives the Level?
Start with four dimensions.
SII does not judge a quotation by total price alone. We review the transparency, consistency, reasonableness, and executability of the information in the document.
01TRANSPARENCY
Transparency
Are prices, materials, brands, specifications, and scope clearly disclosed rather than reduced to vague labels or lump sums?
02CONSISTENCY
Consistency
Do units, quantities, amounts, dates, and scope remain internally consistent throughout the same document?
03REASONABILITY
Reasonableness
Do payment, fees, and pricing structures have a clear basis that can be checked against the actual content of the quotation?
04EXECUTABILITY
Executability
Are schedule, acceptance, warranty, variations, and responsibility terms specific enough to support actual performance and communication?
UPGRADE PATH
A better quotation isn't prettier.
It's clearer.
Moving from a lower Level to a higher one means systematically filling the ambiguity, omissions, and unconfirmed details in the document.
01
Complete the core fields
Document the work item, quantity, unit, unit price, and total so the quotation has a basic readable structure.
02
Break down vague pricing
Turn lump sums, site-dependent wording, and equivalent-product notes into identifiable scope, quantities, methods, or pricing rules.
03
Specify materials and methods
Add brands, models, dimensions, thickness, grades, installation methods, and substitution rules.
04
Document performance terms
Put payment, schedule, acceptance, warranty, variations, changes, and responsibility procedures into writing.
05
Build a consistent comparison basis
Align price, specifications, scope, and responsibility across quotations before making the final selection.
WHEN TO REVIEW
You don't need a perfect quote
before you start checking.
A quotation can be reviewed at different stages. The earlier you identify what is missing, the more time you have to clarify it before payment or signing.
01EARLY DRAFT
You just received the first quotation
COMMONLY LEVEL 1–2Identify what the document is missing before jumping into negotiation simply because a total price is visible.
02COMPARISON
You are comparing multiple quotations
COMMONLY LEVEL 2–4Make sure the quotations use comparable material, scope, and responsibility assumptions before comparing price.
03BEFORE SIGNING
You are about to pay a deposit or sign
COMMONLY LEVEL 3–5Confirm that payment, acceptance, warranty, variations, and responsibility are clearly documented before commitment.
RATING SYSTEM FAQ
What people most often misunderstand
about SII Levels.
These answers also clarify what the SII Rating System does—and what it does not do.
No. SII Level 1–5 rates the information maturity of the quotation itself—whether work items, pricing, materials, specifications, scope, and performance terms are documented well enough to be read, compared, and reviewed. It is not a contractor credit score or a judgment of capability or character.
No. Level 5 means the document provides a mature basis for review. It does not guarantee workmanship, performance, legal responsibility, or the absence of future disputes. Before signing, the quotation, contract, drawings, and documented commitments should still be cross-checked.
Not necessarily. Level 1 mainly means the current document does not provide enough information for effective understanding or comparison. Early quotations are often brief. The priority is to identify the gaps and request clarification rather than infer bad intent.
Yes. Document maturity can improve when missing quantities, units, unit prices, material specifications, scope, payment, acceptance, warranty, or variation terms are added. The Level reflects the document version being reviewed at that time.
SII reviews transparency, consistency, reasonableness, and executability, with reference to the public SII-R001–SII-R030 criteria. Level 1–5 is an overall interpretation of document maturity, not a simple count of individual issues.
Level 4 means the main information structure is substantially complete. Level 5 goes further: key pricing, specifications, scope, and responsibilities form a more mature and traceable basis for final review. In simple terms, Level 4 means most of what should be there is present; Level 5 means the document is better prepared for final verification.
No. The Level helps you judge which document is easier to understand and compare, but the final decision must still consider scope, requirements, price, contract terms, and the contractor itself. If two documents have very different maturity, align the comparison basis first.
You can submit the first quotation, documents you are actively comparing, or a quotation you are about to sign or pay against. You do not need to wait for a perfect document. Finding information gaps earlier usually gives you more time to clarify them before commitment.
START WITH YOUR DOCUMENT
Don't guess whether
a quotation is “good.”
First see how mature the document is.
Upload the renovation or construction quotation you have now. Start with its document maturity and key risk signals, then decide what needs to be clarified before you sign or pay.
PDFs, photos, or screenshots acceptedYou do not need to know your Level firstResults delivered in 3–5 business days
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