The equipment quote is usually the first document in this process that promises something in writing, and most families read it for the total. Read it for the lines instead. A quote is a proposal the supplier can change until you sign, and what you sign becomes the order the supplier works from.
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Match the quote to what you asked for
Put the quote beside your own list. Each item should appear once, with the type or model named, the quantity, and whether it is bought or rented. If the quote says bed and your list says bed with rails and a pressure mattress, the difference is what you are signing, so settle it before the truck is scheduled. Ask the supplier to name anything on the quote that is not on your list, and anything on your list that is missing.
Find out whether a written order comes first
Some equipment cannot be delivered until a prescribing practitioner has written an order for it. Ask the supplier which items on the quote need that order before delivery, who is sending it to them, and what the order says about the item, the quantity, and how long it is needed. If the order and the quote disagree, do not sign until the supplier explains which one governs. The hospice team can tell you what they have already sent. The Sources page on this site lists where the rules behind these orders come from.
Ask about the rental clock
If anything is rented, the quote should show when the rental starts, how it is billed, and when the supplier expects it back. Ask who pays for a replacement if a rented item fails, and who stands behind a purchased one. Write the answers in the margin with the name of the person who gave them and the day you asked.
Check the supplier before you sign
Compare the supplier's name, address, and phone number on the quote with the paperwork that came with the first call or the delivery. Keep one copy with the order number at the top. Signing is not a formality here. It is the point where the order starts, and it is the paper you will hold if the item arrives wrong.