Service
Pre-Construction
Conceptual and schematic budgets before there is a full drawing set, so cost is a design input rather than a surprise at the end of it.
- Turnaround
- Scheduled to your design milestones
- Delivered as
- Excel · PDF · marked-up plans
- Pricing
- Fixed fee, quoted up front
- Quality
- Second-estimator review
Overview
What this service does.
The cheapest point to change a building is before it is fully drawn. Pre-construction estimating puts a defensible number against schematic and design-development drawings, so the owner, architect and builder can make scope decisions while they still cost nothing to make. Each budget is updated as the design develops, with a clear record of what changed and why.
Who it’s for
- Design-build and negotiated-work contractors
- Developers testing feasibility
- Architects who need cost feedback during design
What’s included
- Conceptual and schematic budgets
- Design-development and 50/90% CD estimates
- Value-engineering options priced side by side
- Budget reconciliation between design stages
- Allowance and contingency schedule
What you receive
Everything you need to bid. Nothing you have to redo.
Every estimate ships as the same four-part package, on the first job and the fiftieth.
| CSI | Line item | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 03 30 00 | Cast-in-place concrete | 46 CY |
| 03 20 00 | Reinforcing steel | 0.86 TON |
| 05 12 00 | Structural steel framing | 38.4 TON |
| 09 21 16 | Gypsum board assemblies | 18,420 SF |
| 09 65 19 | LVT flooring | 2,140 SF |
| 23 31 13 | Ductwork — galvanized | 4,860 LB |
| 26 05 19 | Building wire & cable | 12,300 LF |
- LVT flooring2,140 SF
- Partition type A412 LF
- Flush wood doors18 EA
- Sheet A-2013 items
How it works
From plan set to bid‑ready in three steps.
No retainer, no subscription and nothing measured until you approve the fee.
- Step 1
Upload your drawings
Plans, specs, addenda and the bid date — PDF, DWG or a plan-room link.
- Step 2
Get a fixed quote
An estimator reviews the scope and confirms the fee and delivery date.
- Step 3
Receive a bid-ready package
Live Excel workbook, PDF summary, marked-up plans and written scope.
FAQ
Pre-Construction, answered.
Talk to an estimator
Not a salesperson. Same-day answers on working days.
+1 518 974 7222[email protected]How accurate is a budget from schematic drawings?
It depends on how much is drawn. We state the expected range for each estimate class and narrow it at each design stage, so you know how much weight a number can carry.
Can you price value-engineering options?
Yes. Each option is priced against the base design with the full knock-on effect, not just the swapped material, so the comparison is fair.
Do you work directly with the design team?
We can. Many clients have us join design meetings so cost questions get answered while the decision is still open.
Can you use our cost book and labor rates?
Yes, and we prefer it. Your historical costs reflect your crews and your suppliers better than any published average. Send the template and we work inside it.
How does pricing work?
Pricing is per project and quoted before any work starts — no retainer, no minimum volume and no subscription.
Start a quote
Have a bid coming up?
Pick your project type and send the drawings. We confirm the fee and delivery date within the hour on working days.