We defend your estimate with the general contractor
Most estimating services hand over a number and walk away. When the general contractor says your electrical price is too high, or that items are missing, Admiral Electrical stays with you: we justify the quantities, labour and pricing line by line, by phone, by email or in person, backed by 30+ years of estimating experience.
When a number gets challenged
The bid is in, and the general contractor calls. This is where contractors lose margin they had priced correctly.
- "Your price is higher than the others"
- We show where the difference comes from, item by item, and whether the lower bids left scope out.
- "You missed this" or "you counted that twice"
- The marked-up drawings show exactly what was counted and where, so the question is settled with evidence, not opinion.
- "Your labour is too high"
- We explain the labour units and the site conditions behind them: heights, ceilings, phasing, occupied buildings, access.
- "Find us savings"
- We separate real value-engineering options from cuts that would leave you short on the job.
How it works
Estimate defence is available for estimates we prepared, because we can stand behind every line of them. You choose the format; the fee is agreed before we start and depends on whether it is written, by phone, or in person.
Send the questions
Forward the general contractor's email, scope review list or meeting notes.
We prepare the answers
Every point is checked against the estimate, the marked-up drawings and the specification.
We defend it with you
In writing, on a call with the general contractor, or in person at the scope review meeting.
You keep your number
Or you change it knowingly, with every adjustment shown and explained.
Why our defence holds up
A defence is only as good as the estimate behind it and the person presenting it.
- 30+ years of experience at the table
- Yan Zaslavsky started as an electrician and has estimated electrical work for more than three decades. General contractors recognise that experience.
- Evidence on every line
- Every count is highlighted on the drawings and every labour unit comes from Accubid Pro, so each answer points to something the other side can check.
- Honest where it matters
- If a point is right, we say so and show exactly how the price changes. That is what makes the rest of the defence credible.
Estimate defence questions
Can you defend our estimate with the general contractor?
Yes, for estimates we prepared, and few estimating services offer it. If the general contractor or owner questions your electrical price, we justify the quantities, labour and pricing line by line, drawing on 30+ years of experience. It can be done by phone, by email or in person, whichever suits you. It is a paid service; the fee depends on the format and is agreed in advance. See estimate defence.
When do contractors need an estimate defended?
Usually after the bid, when the general contractor calls a scope review, says your electrical price is high compared with other bidders, claims items are missing or duplicated, or asks for savings through value engineering. The same happens when an owner or cost consultant reviews a negotiated price.
How does estimate defence work?
You send us the general contractor's questions. We go back to the estimate and the marked-up drawings, prepare the answers item by item (quantities, labour units, site conditions, specification requirements), and then either write them up for you, go through them with the general contractor by phone, or attend the meeting in person.
What if the general contractor is right about an item?
Then we say so. A defence is only credible if it is honest: we confirm what is correct, correct what is not, and show exactly how the price changes. Most challenges are answered by the marked-up drawings alone.
Price challenged? Do not cut it alone.
Send us the general contractor's questions. We tell you the format and the fee before we start.