What this service covers
Schematic-stage cost estimates with 15-30% accuracy for design-development decisions.
Preliminary estimating sits between budget (Class 5/4) and bid (Class 1/2). At schematic or design-development stages — roughly 10-40% complete drawings — there’s enough information to do measured quantity takeoff on bulk items but not enough detail to fully price every system.
We deliver an AACE Class 3 estimate with -20% to +30% accuracy: measured bulk quantities priced against current data, plus parametric or unit-cost estimates on systems that aren’t fully designed yet. Documented assumptions show where the precision is coming from.
How we work
Every preliminary estimating services engagement starts with a free scope review — typically within 4 business hours of receiving your documents. We confirm the deliverable scope, turnaround, and fee before any work starts. Estimates and takeoffs are produced by US-based senior estimators with a minimum of seven years on the discipline in question, then reviewed by a second estimator before delivery.
Deliverables ship in your preferred format — PDF, Excel, your estimating software’s native file, or a custom client template. Bid-day clarifications during your bid submission window are handled in under an hour.
Why outsource this work
Outsourced specialty estimating gives contractors access to senior trade-specific capacity without the fixed cost of a full-time hire. The economics are simple: a senior in-house estimator costs $90K-$150K/year fully loaded; outsourced per-project work is paid as it’s used. For shops with irregular bid volume or specialty trades they bid only occasionally, the math heavily favors outsourcing.