You have a quote for a service upgrade in front of you. The sheet may be a single page or a stack. Before you decide, read it the way you would read a walk-through. Each line should say what it buys, what it leaves out, and who does it.
Read the quote as a list of parts
Ask the contractor to break the price into the parts of the job. A usable quote names the service entrance conductors, the meter base or its replacement, the main disconnect, the new panel, the branch circuit moves, grounding and bonding, the permit, the inspection, and any patching. If a line says only 'panel upgrade,' ask what sits under it. Quotes from different sources can carry similar totals and cover different work. Compare the lines, not the totals.
Ask who handles the utility and the permit
Ask who pulls the permit and whether the inspection is in the quote or added later. Ask whether the utility must disconnect and reconnect the service, and who schedules that visit. A job can stop for days waiting on a utility appointment. Get the sequence in writing so you know who is waiting on whom.
Ask what the load figure was built on
Ask how the new service size was reached. A good answer points to a load calculation that lists what the house draws: heating, cooling, the range, water heating, the dryer, and any planned additions. Ask whether the existing loads were measured or assumed. If you expect to add a heat pump, an electric water heater, or an EV charger later, ask whether the new service leaves room for them now. Put those plans on the page so the calculation works from the house you will actually have.
Ask what happens when the old work is opened
Ask what happens if the crew finds wiring that needs correction once the old panel is open. Ask whether that work is priced now, priced as an add-on, or left to your decision on the day. Ask whether the new panel comes with labeled spaces and whether the circuit labels will be rewritten. A panel with clear labels is easier to service later, and the directory is part of the install.
Ask what the warranty covers and whether it is separate
Ask who warrants the labor and who warrants the equipment. These are usually separate promises with separate paper trails. Ask how a problem gets reported, who answers the call, and what the warranty does not cover. Read the terms before the work starts, not after. This site does not publish what any company's warranty covers, so the paper in front of you is the source that counts.
Check what is left out
Ask what the quote does not include. Common gaps are drywall and paint, moving stored items, reconnecting appliances, a generator interlock, and any work on circuits outside the panel. Ask who handles each gap, and write the answer beside the line.
Plan the date before you sign
Look up the age of the panel you have now and log the details on its nameplate. Then read the service life and planning notes on the electrical panel page. An age on paper is a planning input, and a quote is a decision. Take both to the table.