Offers read one at a time tend to be judged by whichever pitch was most persuasive that day. A comparison sheet holds the terms still. Set up the rows before you open a second offer, then fill each column from the contract paper, not from the salesperson's summary. Any row you cannot fill is a question for the seller, not a gap to skip.
The rows to set up
Use the same rows for every offer. Each row names one term that a contract either states or leaves out.
The named parties. Write down who sells the contract, who administers it, who is obligated under it, and who performs repairs. Use the labels the paper itself uses. If the paper does not name a party for one of these roles, record a blank.
The contract title. Copy the form's own title exactly, along with any form code printed on it.
The term and the renewal line. Record how long the coverage runs, whether it renews automatically, and what notice the paper requires to stop a renewal.
The waiting period. A waiting period is the time after the contract starts before covered visits can begin. Record its length and the event it is counted from, because the sale date and the activation date can differ.
The cancellation method and refund basis. Record how the buyer cancels, in what form, and how unused time is returned. Leave the figure cell empty until you have read the formula the paper uses.
The transfer rule. Record whether the contract moves to a new owner, what the new owner must do, and whether any paperwork or payment is required.
The exclusions and limits reference. Write the section heading where the exclusions appear. Do not write a summary of them in this cell.
The roster status for the state. Check the state's own page on this site for whether a roster is published, the statute or program cited, and the as-of line. Write that as-of line beside the offer, so the roster you read is matched to the offer you hold. The Georgia page shows the layout these entries follow.
How to fill the sheet
Fill each cell from the page that states the term. If two offers describe the same term in different words, keep the paper's own words in the cell and mark the row for side-by-side reading. A cell records what the paper says, with its section reference. It does not record your conclusion.
Ask the seller for the blank form if any cell cannot be filled from the offer you hold. A sales summary does not stand in for the paper.
What the grid does not settle
A matching grid shows where offers line up and where they do not. It does not say which offer fits your unit or your household better, and it does not predict whether any claim will be paid. This guide does not read the seller's conduct, its sales process, or its claims history, and it does not rank any provider. Use the finished sheet to decide which questions still need an answer before you sign anything.