What Most Contractors Skip in Pre-Construction (And What It Costs Them)

What's in this episode

The pre-construction phase doesn't feel urgent — and that's exactly why it wrecks so many jobs. In this episode of Contractor Cuts, Clark and James break down the most important things contractors miss before a job starts, and why skipping them is quietly costing you money, reviews, and client trust. They get into: Why every job — even a $5,000 one — needs a pre-construction phase How to build a Gantt chart that protects your profit and sets client expectations Why locking in selections before demo day prevents the change orders clients hate Walking every crew through the job before a single hammer swings The 50-point job site checklist that eliminates day-one chaos Why you set the start date — not your client The estimate mistakes hiding in plain sight that quietly drain your margin If you've ever had a job go sideways before it even really started, this episode is the fix. 🚧 2027 Growth Conference — Austin, TX | Jan 10–12. Two days diving deep into your company — what's working, what's broken — ending with your 2027 blueprint. Day 3: hands-on electives like financial management and estimate writing to make it real. Early Bird (very limited): 30% off + 3 hotel nights covered. Sig