A CONTRACTOR's estimate is a document that outlines the cost of a job, including labor and materials. It is typically provided by a CONTRACTOR to a customer before work begins. The term 'CONTRACTOR's estimate' can be summarized as a five-letter word: QUOTE. A QUOTE is an offer to do a job for a certain price. It is important to get a QUOTE from a CONTRACTOR before any work begins in order to ensure that the customer is aware of the total cost of the job.