Practical guide
What this article covers
Compare architectural drafting quotes on the same sheets, revisions, review time and editable files before choosing a production partner.
One proposal says “update six sheets.” The other says “incorporate one markup set across six plans, coordinate the affected elevations, and return the DWGs and a plotted PDF.” The second price might be higher. It might also be the only price that includes the job you actually need done.
Give both teams the same small test brief
Pick one representative change, not your cleanest sheet. Suppose a reception counter moves eight inches. Give both teams the marked-up plan, the elevation reference, your layer standard and the review date. Ask each to say, in writing, what they would return. You are looking for differences in interpretation before comparing prices.
A team that asks whether the counter move also affects the power plan has found a scope boundary. That is useful even if power coordination belongs to your consultant. Write the answer into the brief and send it to both bidders.
Normalize four items before comparing the fee
- Sheets: Which named sheets will be changed, and which will only be checked?
- Review: Does one round mean correcting missed markups, incorporating new design decisions, or both?
- Files: Are editable sources, references, fonts and a plotted check set included?
- Timing: Is the date a first review or a finished handoff? When does your PM need to respond?
Price your review time separately
Imagine one bid assumes your PM will consolidate comments, check cross-references and plot the set. The other includes those tasks. Ask your PM how much time each option leaves on their desk. Keep that estimate beside the quoted fee rather than treating the lower number as an automatic saving.
A useful reply to either bidder is: “Please separate the base assignment, optional coordination and work triggered by new design direction.” It gives both sides a way to discuss surprises without renegotiating the entire set.
Buy the handoff you can evaluate
Before awarding the work, write one acceptance sentence: “We can open the agreed source files, trace each markup to a sheet, and identify every unresolved decision.” Our original redline study shows what one of those checks looks like. If the proposals still feel too different to compare, narrow the first assignment to a paid pilot instead of guessing which team will be easier to manage.
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