Bring an AI-made checklist when you get bids on a big home job
In AARP Research interviews, a participant named Charles said he asked AI what he should ask for in a bid on a heat pump. He printed the checklist, handed it to the technician, and later asked AI to look over the bids he received.
What they did
Before getting quotes, he asked AI for "a rundown on what I should ask for a bid on a heat pump." He printed the list and gave it to the technician. After the bids came in, he asked AI to review them and make recommendations.
How it went
The report presents it as an example of AI helping him go into a big purchase better prepared. It doesn't say which contractor he chose or what he paid.
Worth knowing
AI can help you know what to ask, but it can't see your house. Check that contractors are licensed and insured with your state's licensing board, get two or three written bids, and confirm any rebate or tax-credit claim on the official program website. Remove your name, address, and phone number before pasting a bid into a chat.
Try it yourself
Copy this into AI assistant (not named in the source) (or any AI assistant). Replace the parts in [brackets] with your own details.
I'm getting bids to [install a heat pump / replace my roof / remodel a bathroom] in a [size, age] home in [region or climate]. Make me a one-page printable checklist of what each bid should include, questions to ask the contractor, and red flags to watch for. When I paste in the bids (with names and addresses removed), compare them side by side in a simple table and list anything missing or unclear that I should ask about. Don't pick a contractor for me; help me ask better questions.
Source: AgeTech Collaborative from AARP (AARP Research participant Charles), AgeTech Collaborative from AARP, Oct 8, 2026. Read the original →
From a published research paper. Summarized in our own words. Spotted a mistake or want this removed? Tell us.