Compare and Book Research

You do the legwork a careful person does before spending money: define what matters, compare the real total cost and terms rather than the headline price, read reviews properly, check the seller is real, and recommend a clear choice with a runner-up. You can prepare the booking up to the point of commitment; paying, signing or sharing the owner's personal details happens only with the owner's explicit go-ahead.

When to use

• "Find me a hotel in Lisbon for these dates under [price]."
• "Which washing machine should I buy?"
• "Compare these three broadband deals."
• "Find a plumber / electrician / cleaner nearby."
• "Is this a good price?"
• "Book the one you recommend." (after approval)

What you need

• What is being bought or booked, for whom, when, and the budget.
• Requirements: must-haves, nice-to-haves, deal-breakers. Ask with clarify if unclear; store lasting preferences in memory (preferred airlines, hotel style, brands to avoid).
• The owner's browser, signed in where they hold accounts or loyalty memberships, for real prices; web_search and web_extract for research.
• Location and delivery or service address (only as much as needed to get prices).
• For bookings after approval: who pays and how, and the traveller or account holder details, provided by the owner at that point.

Method

1. Define the decision. Write the must-haves (fail one and the option is out), nice-to-haves with weights, deal-breakers, the budget ceiling, and the deadline for deciding. For services, add licensing or certification requirements where the law or safety needs them (for example registered gas engineers or licensed electricians; check the local rules).
2. Build a long list from several sources. Comparison and aggregator sites, the providers' own sites (often cheaper or with better terms), marketplaces, and local directories for services. Aim for 5 to 10 candidates, then cut to those that meet every must-have.
3. Compare the true total cost. Headline price plus everything you will actually pay: taxes, booking and service fees, resort or city fees, baggage and seat fees, delivery, installation, removal of old items, setup fees, minimum contract terms, price rises after an introductory period, and cancellation costs. For running costs (appliances, energy, subscriptions), estimate cost over the expected life. Calculate with execute_code; compare like for like (same dates, room type, baggage, contract length).
4. Compare the terms. Cancellation and refund rules and their deadlines, change fees, warranty length and who honours it, return windows, contract length and exit fees, deposit rules, payment timing.
5. Read reviews for patterns, not stars. Look at recent reviews (last 6 to 12 months), the number of reviews, the spread (a polarised spread with many 1-stars hides a repeated failure), and read the 2- and 3-star reviews for specific recurring problems. Suspect fakes when many reviews are vague, posted in bursts, from new profiles, or use similar wording. Cross-check on more than one review site.
6. Check legitimacy. For unfamiliar sellers or tradespeople: a physical address and working contact details, company registration where it applies, the right licence or trade body membership, realistic prices (far below others is a warning sign), secure checkout, and how payment is protected. Some payment methods give more protection than others (card chargeback rules and, in some countries, extra credit card protection); check what applies in the owner's country. Never recommend paying unknown sellers by bank transfer.
7. Check timing. Is the price likely to change? Note price history where a free tracker or the seller shows it, seasonal patterns, and whether free cancellation allows booking now and rechecking later. Do not promise future prices.
8. Score and recommend. Use the weighted matrix in references/comparison-matrix.md. Recommend one option and a runner-up, with the reasons and the trade-offs in two or three sentences. Show prices with the date and time checked, since they change.
9. Book only with approval. Present the recommendation on a show_card with the total cost and key terms. When the owner approves, complete the booking steps in the browser up to the payment or final confirmation page and stop, unless the owner has explicitly told you to complete it. Never enter card details or personal documents unless the owner instructs you to for that booking.
10. After booking. Save the confirmation to the owner's files, add dates to the calendar (Google Calendar or Outlook connected app), and set a cronjob reminder before the free cancellation or return deadline and before any check-in or delivery. Record the choice and outcome in memory.

Output

• Requirements summary.
• Comparison table: option, total cost, key terms, review summary, legitimacy checks, score.
• Recommendation and runner-up with reasons and trade-offs.
• Price-check timestamp and sources.
• After approval: booking status, confirmation, deadlines added to the calendar.

Checks before you finish

• Every option meets every must-have, or is marked as out.
• Totals include all fees and compare like for like.
• Cancellation, return and contract terms recorded for the top options.
• Reviews read for recent patterns, not just averages.
• Unfamiliar sellers checked for legitimacy.
• Prices timestamped.
• No payment, signature or personal data shared without explicit approval.

Pitfalls

• Headline-price comparisons. The cheapest headline is often not the cheapest total. Add everything.
• Star-rating worship. A 4.6 average can hide a repeated serious problem. Read the middle reviews.
• Ignoring terms. A slightly cheaper non-refundable booking can be the most expensive choice if plans change.
• Too many options. Present a clear recommendation, not a list of twenty.
• Unverified tradespeople. Gas, electrical and structural work needs the right qualifications where the law requires them. Check.
• Booking without approval. Commitments with money are always the owner's decision.