Most contractors think estimating is about getting the numbers right.
It’s not.
In reality, estimating is where contractors either price risk intelligently—or inherit it blindly. And when risk isn’t priced up front, it doesn’t disappear. It shows up later as schedule pressure, cash-flow stress, strained relationships, and shrinking margins.
In this episode of the Construction Genius Podcast, Eric Anderton sits down with Chris Clausing, Director of Program and Curriculum Innovation for Construction at Colibri Group, to unpack why estimating is still more art than science—and why the risk margin is the most consistently missed component in construction pricing.
Chris brings 25 years of experience as a commercial general contractor, along with his current role developing licensing and certification programs for contractors nationwide. He explains how regional differences, project niches, client behavior, and execution assumptions make “one-size-fits-all” estimating approaches dangerous—especially for growing firms.
The conversation dives into how contractors unknowingly miss risk margin by:
- – Treating estimates as static numbers instead of risk-adjusted decisions
- – Chasing volume outside their core niche
- – Allowing pricing assumptions to bleed across project types
- – Failing to connect estimating with operations and the field
- – Ignoring earned value and draw schedule alignment
Eric and Chris also explore how technology—and AI specifically—can help contractors spot estimating risks faster by analyzing historical data and identifying gaps. But Chris is clear: AI doesn’t replace judgment. It supports it. Contractors who win long-term use technology to augment experience, not bypass it.
Perhaps most importantly, the episode highlights the role of training and feedback loops. Without post-project reviews, estimator–field communication, and leadership involvement, companies repeat the same mistakes—confidently and expensively.
If you’ve ever won a project that looked good on paper but slowly bled profit, this episode will help you understand why—and what to change before the next bid goes out.
Listen or Watch the Episode
Resources
🔗 Website: https://contractortrainingcenter.com/
🔗 LinkedIn (Chris): https://www.linkedin.com/in/gcexamprep/
🔗 LinkedIn (Contractor Training Center): https://www.linkedin.com/company/contractortraining
Construction Genius
https://www.constructiongenius.com
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