Build a Scope-Gap-Proof Estimate

Made for General Contractors

Build a Scope-Gap-Proof Estimate

60 min Advanced Budgeting Build Professional Skills Planning a Renovation

Turn scattered project information into a defensible estimate with clear coverage, allowances, exclusions, and unresolved risks.

Create a free account to save your progress and use this Playbook.

Use this when

You're pricing a construction project with multiple drawings, trade quotes, site conditions, allowances, or incomplete design details.

You'll need

  • Project summary
  • Source documents
  • Estimate status
  • Site conditions
  • Trade input
  • Commercial terms
  • Review standard

You'll get

  • Every estimate work package assigned a coverage status
  • Every critical or high-risk gap assigned a next action
  • Trade quote exclusions reconciled against required scope
  • Allowances, assumptions, and exclusions separated clearly
  • Estimate given a documented release recommendation.

By the end of this playbook

You will have:

  • Every estimate work package assigned a coverage status
  • Every critical or high-risk gap assigned a next action
  • Trade quote exclusions reconciled against required scope
  • Allowances, assumptions, and exclusions separated clearly
  • Estimate given a documented release recommendation.

Sample

This is sample data, not your prompt. Pro unlocks this higher-stakes Playbook. On Free Playbooks you can still copy the assembled prompt into any AI.

Sample input

I'm pricing a $1.8 million occupied medical-office renovation from a 90% drawing set. Demolition and architectural takeoffs are complete. Electrical quotes exclude fire alarm and temporary power. Mechanical excludes controls wiring, roof patching, and testing. The plans show after-hours phasing, but I haven't carried a labor premium. I included a broad $40,000 MEP allowance and excluded permits. The client wants a proposal tomorrow.

Sample assembled prompt

Overall recommendation: Hold for Clarification.
Top margin threats: 1.
After-hours phasing is shown but no...
2. Fire alarm appears required but...
3. Controls wiring sits between the...
4. Roof patching for mechanical penetrations...
5. The broad MEP allowance hides...
Priority actions: - Add or obtain...
- Issue a fire alarm coverage...
- Assign controls wiring explicitly before...
- Add roof patching to roofing...
- Split the MEP allowance into...
Release status: Hold until the after-hours...
Release With Stated Conditions may be...
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