In construction, one small mistake can cost you thousands—maybe even more. When you’re putting together a bid, it’s easy to focus on the pages that seem most relevant to your scope of work. But skipping over pages, even ones that don’t seem to apply to you at first glance, can lead to costly oversights.
Jeff Spencer, an experienced project manager, recently discussed this issue in a conversation about bidding on construction projects. Whether you’re a seasoned contractor or just getting started, the importance of thoroughly reviewing a set of drawings before submitting your bid can’t be overstated.
Budget Bids vs. Hard Bids
When a project is in its early stages, contractors may be asked to submit a budget bid based on incomplete drawings. In this phase, you might only be looking at 20% of the finalized plans, which means there are plenty of unknowns. Because of that, your estimate is more of a ballpark figure.
As time goes on and more details get finalized, you may be asked to bid multiple times on the same job. By the time a project reaches 75% or 80% completed drawings, it’s usually time for a hard bid, where pricing gets locked in. Even then, you’re not always looking at the final number—unexpected details in the drawings can still change the scope and affect costs.
Why You Shouldn’t Skip Pages
A full set of construction drawings includes:
✔️ Architectural drawings
✔️ Civil drawings
✔️ Electrical plans
✔️ Plumbing plans
✔️ Structural details
✔️ Demolition plans
✔️ Geotechnical reports
If you’re bidding on a civil scope—utilities, grading, excavation, etc.—you might think you only need to look at the civil drawings. But that’s a big mistake.
For example, say you’re bidding on a sewer line installation. You pull up the civil plans, find the utility page, and start crunching numbers. But what if the notes say, “Refer to plumbing drawings for further details”? If you didn’t check those plumbing plans, you could be missing additional requirements—like grease traps, clean-outs, or tie-ins that weren’t clearly marked in the civil set.
Skipping pages can mean underbidding the project and eating unexpected costs later.
The Role of Demolition in Utility Work
Another commonly overlooked detail? Demolition requirements.
Many contractors jump straight to their scope of work and ignore the demolition plans. That can be a costly oversight. Even if you’re just handling utilities, the demolition drawings might call for removing old sewer or water lines before new work can begin.
If an existing building is being torn down, and the old utilities run right underneath where the new structure is planned, those lines must be removed or rerouted. Sometimes, you can abandon old pipes in place by cutting and capping them or filling them with concrete. Other times, you’re required to fully remove and replace them with new backfill—often stone, which is expensive.
With stone prices nearly doubling over the past few years, failing to account for demolition and backfill could blow your budget out of the water.
Don’t Ignore the Geotechnical Report
Beyond the drawings, another critical document often overlooked is the geotechnical report. If you’re working on excavation or grading, this report tells you what kind of soil conditions to expect.
- Is there rock excavation required?
- Will the soil need undercuts and stabilization?
- Do you need to budget for surge rock or geotextile fabric to reinforce weak soil?
If you don’t review the geotechnical data, you might assume normal excavation when, in reality, you’re dealing with hard rock removal, bad soil conditions, or extra hauling costs.
Staying in the Game
For newer contractors, navigating bids can be intimidating. Should you bid on projects when you’re uncertain about the scope? According to Jeff Spencer, staying in the game is key.
If you’re working with a client regularly, it’s wise to continue submitting bids—even at the budget phase. Your pricing will likely evolve as the drawings become more complete. And while some jobs might not be a fit, walking away from a client too soon can cost you future opportunities.
Final Thoughts
No one wants to lose money because they missed a detail in the drawings. To avoid costly surprises:
✅ Review every relevant page—not just the ones for your scope.
✅ Check demolition plans to see if old utilities need to be removed or abandoned.
✅ Look at plumbing and electrical drawings for details that might impact your work.
✅ Read the geotechnical report to understand soil conditions and excavation challenges.
Skipping these steps can mean bidding too low, unexpected change orders, or worse—losing money on the job. The best way to protect your profit? Read every page, every time.