Budget and Quotation Review
Construction budget review in Costa Rica to compare contractor proposals and identify missing scope before you sign or choose a builder.
What is it?
I review the construction estimate or proposal you received from a builder, contractor or supplier. I examine missing items, exclusions, assumptions and payment terms so you understand the actual scope and the risks before signing or committing more money.
What is it for?
It helps you understand whether the budget is clear, whether proposals cover comparable work and which points need clarification. I identify cost-related gaps and differences that could otherwise become changes, additional charges or disagreements once construction begins.
Who is it for?
Owners and investors with drawings, a preliminary design, a construction estimate or a contractor proposal who are unsure whether the information is complete, prices are comparable or the proposed scope is sufficiently clear to accept.
When should you request it?
- Before signing a contract with your builder.
- Before accepting a construction quote.
- When you have several proposals and need help comparing them.
- When one offer is priced much lower than another.
- When large lump-sum items in the quote have little explanation.
- When you cannot tell what is included and what is excluded.
- When payment requests raise questions about the supporting scope
- When extras, changes or cost differences appear in a quote.
- When you need a second technical review before committing more investment.
Service Details
What is included
- Review of the budget provided by the contractor.
- Identification of missing line items.
- Review of assumptions, exclusions, and unclear items.
- Basic comparison of quotations, if applicable.
- Observations on cost overrun risks.
- Key questions to clarify before signing.
- Brief memo with main findings and alerts.
What is not included
- A new budget prepared from scratch.
- Architectural design or engineering design.
- Legal review of contracts.
- Full formal bidding process.
- Direct negotiation with contractors.
- Permanent construction supervision.
- Automatic approval of payments.
Duration
3 a 12 días naturales
Deliverables
An executive memo, cost-risk alerts, observations on budget items and questions to resolve before signing, paying or selecting your contractor.
Estimated Investment
Starting at $950 USD
Frequently Asked Questions / FAQ
What is the difference between this service and the Project Risk Assessment?
The Budget and Quotation Review focuses on quotations, line items, exclusions, assumptions, payment conditions, and economic risks.
The Diagnóstico de Riesgo revisa el estado general del proyecto: etapa, información disponible, diseño, permisos, presupuesto, contratación, riesgos y decisiones críticas.
If your main concern is the budget, this service is more direct. If your concern is the entire project, it is better to start with a Project Risk Assessment.
Will you tell me whether the budget is expensive or cheap?
I help you understand whether the budget is clear, complete, well supported, and comparable with other proposals.
It would not be serious to say that something is expensive or cheap without reviewing scope, drawings, location, specifications, conditions, and level of detail.
The important question is: what are you really buying, and what risks are you accepting?
Can you compare several quotations?
Yes. This service is useful when you have two or more proposals that are difficult to compare.
Many times, one quotation appears cheaper because it excludes items, uses different assumptions, or does not include certain works.
The review helps organize those differences before you make a decision.
Does this service replace a formal bidding process?
No. A formal bidding process requires bidding documents, contractor questions, proposal leveling, evaluation criteria, and a more structured process.
This review works as an independent technical reading to help you understand risks before signing, paying, or moving forward.
What documents do I need to send?
Ideally, you should send:
- The budget or quotation you received.
- Available drawings or preliminary design.
- Finish schedule, if available.
- Scope offered by the contractor.
- Payment conditions.
- Schedule, if available.
- Contract or commercial proposal, if you already have one.
If you do not have everything, I can still review the available information and point out what is missing before you make a decision.
What happens if the budget is incomplete?
I show you which points should be clarified before moving forward. The goal is not to block the project. The goal is to help you request more precise information, compare proposals better, and reduce decisions made with incomplete data.
Can you review payments during construction?
Yes, but continuing payment and progress reviews normally require a different scope: Owner's Representationor a Construction Project Recovery Review.
This budget review focuses on the proposal you have received, clarifying scope, assumptions and exclusions before you sign or select the builder.
Before signing, let’s review what you are accepting
A construction proposal sets out more than a price. It also establishes scope, exclusions, payment conditions, changes and responsibilities. Before you accept it or choose a construction company, let's review whether the offer clearly reflects the work you intend to commission.