80% Check
The 80% Check is a proactive working conversation with a simple purpose: confirm that scope, quantities, assumptions, and schedule are aligned while there’s still time to make manageable adjustments.
Not a pricing discussion, the 80% Check is an opportunity to stay on the same page during fluid design processes. This space for earlier collaboration strengthens outcomes with fewer late-stage revisions, smoother reconciliations, and greater confidence in the final deliverable. It’s one more way we act as cost management guides—helping project teams navigate complexity with clarity, transparency, and trust.
Instilling confidence at the summit
Cost estimates are built on the best available drawings, narratives, and assumptions provided by the project team at a specific point in time.
As design progresses, it’s common for things to evolve:
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A scope item may be missing, outdated, or unintentionally included
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Design intent may be clearer in conversation than on the drawings
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Program or scope evolution may cause costs to trend differently than early models
The 80% Check provides a structured moment to surface these realities before final delivery—collaboratively, transparently, and without the pressure of revision cycles after the fact.
This is not a redesign workshop, pricing exercise, or a full reconciliation exercise. It’s a focused alignment check to ensure everyone is solving the same problem before the estimate is finalized.
Alignment before delivery
The 80% Check has a simple goal: the final estimate should reflect shared understanding—not surprises. To keep the conversation productive and focused, pricing discussions and cost analyses are intentionally deferred until the final estimate is complete.
We've outlined below what you should expect on this call.
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Walk through the estimate section by section together
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Call out items that were assumed or not clearly defined
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Share screens as helpful to confirm alignment
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Identify known scope gaps or areas of uncertainty
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Confirm priorities and schedule considerations before finalization