Simplifying Preconstruction for Small and Mid-Sized Contractors

Preconstruction is the crucial first step that sets the tone for a successful construction project. For small and mid-sized contractors, it’s a time to refine budgets, scope, schedules, and prepare the entire team for what’s to come. But managing preconstruction efficiently can be challenging without the right tools.

At RedTeam, we help contractors streamline the preconstruction process, ensuring accuracy, collaboration, and speed. With our integrated solutions, you can estimate more effectively, manage bids effortlessly, and move confidently from planning to breaking ground—all without the usual stress and complexity.

What is preconstruction?

Preconstruction is the planning phase where you lay the foundation for the project. During this phase, contractors engage in several key activities to define the scope, schedule, costs, and potential risks before construction begins:

Scope Definition: Understanding exactly what is to be built
Cost Estimation: Creating a detailed budget and price estimate
Scheduling: Planning project milestones and timelines
Bidding and Subcontractor Selection: Gathering and reviewing bids from vendors
Risk Management: Identifying potential challenges and mitigating them before work begins

The better your preconstruction process, the fewer surprises you’ll face during the build. It’s an opportunity to clarify expectations, prevent budget overruns, and avoid delays before the real work starts.

Why preconstruction matters for small and mid-sized contractors

For small and mid-sized contractors, preconstruction can often be a challenge. You’re balancing multiple roles within your team, and you might not have dedicated preconstruction staff. Without the right systems in place, it can be hard to keep track of estimates, schedules, and bid packages.

A strong preconstruction process is essential for:

Reducing Risk: Addressing potential problems before they become costly mistakes
Building Trust: A well-prepared proposal demonstrates professionalism and increases your chances of winning projects
Improving Team Alignment: Ensuring everyone from estimators to project managers is on the same page
Protecting Your Bottom Line: Identifying and mitigating issues early can prevent change orders and avoid budget overruns

By adopting a streamlined, collaborative preconstruction workflow, contractors can gain a competitive edge and ensure projects are set up for success.

The challenges contractors face in preconstruction

Even experienced contractors face a range of challenges during preconstruction. Some of the most common issues include:

Disconnected Systems: Relying on multiple tools, spreadsheets, and emails that don’t work well together
Estimating Errors: Difficulty accurately estimating costs and scheduling timeframes
Bid Management Problems: Managing multiple bids and comparing proposals can be cumbersome and error-prone
Lack of Collaboration: When your team isn’t aligned from the start, mistakes and miscommunications are inevitable

These challenges can lead to errors, misaligned expectations, and project delays. However, with the right tools in place, these hurdles are entirely manageable.

How RedTeam simplifies preconstruction

At RedTeam, we’ve built a platform designed specifically to solve the common preconstruction problems faced by small and mid-sized contractors. Our solutions integrate estimating, bidding, project setup, and financial management into one seamless system.

Powerful estimating tools for smarter decisions

RedTeam’s Cost and Price Estimating tool allows contractors to create highly accurate cost estimates using a flexible, spreadsheet-like interface. With RedTeam, you can:

Use estimating templates and user-defined master assemblies to streamline the estimation process
Create parametric assemblies that automatically calculate costs based on unit rates, negotiated unit prices, overhead, and markups
Easily import/export estimates for collaboration and flexibility across your team
Run “what-if” scenarios to explore different cost scenarios without worrying about invisible formula errors
Advanced analytics and “should cost” comparisons that help you identify discrepancies and ensure accurate pricing

This tool empowers your team to create high-integrity estimates that can be turned into formal proposal documents in no time.

Streamlined bid management and collaboration

One of the biggest pain points during preconstruction is managing bids and subcontractor quotes. RedTeam simplifies this process with tools designed to help you easily collect and evaluate bids, ensuring you select the best options:

Create detailed bid packages and solicit bids from your preferred subcontractors
Online quote submission allows subcontractors to submit their quotes in real time
Bid leveling and advanced analytics give you side-by-side comparisons of vendor quotes to help you make the best decisions
Select the best quote and automatically recalculate your cost and pricing, making the entire process faster and more efficient

With RedTeam, you can manage bids seamlessly and confidently, saving valuable time and reducing errors.

Integrated project setup and financial insights

Once your estimates and bids are in place, RedTeam ensures you’re ready to transition into project execution. Our RedTeam Flex release adds enhanced capabilities for financial tracking and project setup, so you can:

Set up projects with guided workflows to capture all the critical information from the start
Create contract and change proposals with supporting schedules and financial breakdowns directly from your preconstruction data
Track financial health with visibility into budgeted vs. actual costs, keeping everything on track

This integration ensures a smooth handoff from preconstruction to the building phase, with accurate data flowing seamlessly between teams.

Why RedTeam is the solution you’ve been waiting for

RedTeam helps small and mid-sized contractors simplify the preconstruction process, allowing you to focus on what you do best—building great projects. With our intuitive, powerful tools, you can:

Create accurate cost estimates
Manage bids efficiently
Align your team from day one
Transition smoothly into project execution

Whether you’re a seasoned contractor or just getting started, RedTeam gives you the tools to plan smarter, build better, and reduce risk from the start.

See RedTeam in action at Advancing Preconstruction

If you’re planning to attend Advancing Preconstruction in May, we’d love to meet you! Visit us at Booth #47 to see firsthand how RedTeam can transform your preconstruction process. Our team will be there to demonstrate how we help contractors like you simplify estimating, bidding, and project setup, and ensure every project starts with a strong foundation.

Ready to get started today? Request a meeting and see how RedTeam can help you simplify preconstruction and build smarter.