Questions builders ask us
A straightforward look at how pricing, communication, and day-to-day work actually function. If you don't see your question here, reach out directly — we're happy to walk through it.
PRICING & VALUE
Why a flat monthly fee instead of hourly billing?
A flat fee means you know your cost regardless of whether a given month is slow or busy, and it keeps the incentive aligned correctly — we're not paid more for taking longer on a task. Your fee is based on your tier, which reflects your combined active project value.
What determines which tier I'm in?
Your combined active project value — the total contracted or estimated value of every project currently in progress with us at one time. As that grows or shrinks, your tier can move with it.
What happens if my active project value changes mid-quarter?
Pricing is reviewed quarterly using a trailing average of your actual activity, so a short-term swing up or down doesn't automatically trigger a tier change. If a change does look like it's sticking, we'll talk it through with you before adjusting anything.
What if I need more bid estimates than my tier includes?
Each tier includes a quarterly allotment sized to a typical pace of work. If you need more in a particularly busy stretch, additional estimates and change orders are billed at a flat per-item rate for your tier, rather than forcing you into a higher tier for one busy quarter.
Why work with a virtual partner instead of hiring an in-house estimator?
An in-house hire is a fixed cost you carry even in slower periods, plus salary, benefits, and overhead. A flat monthly fee scales with your actual volume and gives you a full back-office function without adding headcount.
HOW WE WORK
How do we communicate day to day?
Our default is written and async — email, shared documents, or a simple portal — so most of the work moves forward without requiring a standing meeting. If a recurring call is useful to you, we'll set a specific day and time during onboarding.
What if something is genuinely urgent?
Reach out directly and we'll flag it as a priority. Requests that fall outside our standard turnaround window — shorter notice or unusually high volume in a given week — may carry a rush fee, which we'll always confirm with you first.
How do you access our project information and systems?
Access is scoped specifically to what's needed for the engagement and set up during onboarding. We work inside your existing platform where you already track projects, so your team keeps working from the systems they know.
Are you available during regular business hours?
Our model is deliberately async-first, so most requests don't require real-time availability at all — work is delivered on a defined schedule. For anything that benefits from a live conversation, we set a specific recurring window together during onboarding.
GETTING STARTED
What does onboarding actually look like?
Week one covers the contract, system access, and invoicing. In the first two weeks we confirm your active project numbers and anything already mid-stream. Your first deliverable typically moves through the full process within two to three weeks of getting started.
Who's responsible if there's an error in an estimate?
Every engagement is governed by a written service agreement that defines scope and responsibility clearly upfront — where our work ends and your team's execution responsibility begins. We're glad to walk through those terms before you sign anything.
What services are included?
Estimating, purchasing, change order management, customer selections coordination, and bid- or selection-related subcontractor communication — the same core scope at every tier. Day-to-day subcontractor coordination, sales, and ongoing customer relationship management stay with your team, since those depend on consistent on-site presence.
Not sure which tier fits your volume?
Send over your current active project value and project count, and we'll recommend the right starting point — no obligation.
Still have questions?
Send us a note and we'll get back to you directly — no automated runaround.