Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers about accuracy, data, pricing, and what DirtBid does — and doesn't — replace.
How accurate are DirtBid estimates?
Estimate mode targets ±5% and Budget mode targets ±15%. Prices come from a Virginia cost library organized by CSI division, adjusted by regional multipliers, validated against library bands, and anchored to real executed-contract benchmarks. Every estimate is a planning-level tool — final pricing always depends on plans, site conditions, and your subcontractor market.
Where does the soil data come from?
Directly from the USDA-NRCS Soil Survey (SSURGO) — the official soil database for the United States, queried live for your parcel. DirtBid layers on hazard interpretation (marine clay, muck, karst, shallow rock, water table) plus county-level risk profiles built with Virginia estimating expertise.
Does a Soil Report replace a geotechnical study?
No — and it is not meant to. A geotech study involves borings on your specific site. DirtBid is the screening step before that: it tells you, for $350 instead of $15,000+, whether the parcel carries risks worth investigating and roughly what they cost to remediate. Never buy land or sign a contract on a soil survey alone.
What areas do you cover?
All of Virginia today: 8 cost regions and every one of the 133 counties and independent cities, each with its own risk profile and cost multiplier. Additional Mid-Atlantic states are on the roadmap.
What is the markup waterfall?
The order in which sitework bids actually compound: base cost → mobilization → contingency → overhead → profit → bond & insurance. DirtBid computes it in audited decimal math and stores every intermediate value, so any number in your bid can be defended line by line.
How does the AI pricing stay honest?
The AI proposes scope and quantities — code disposes. Every price is checked against the cost library’s regional bands; anything outside them gets flagged for your review rather than silently accepted. Estimates for comparable regions are also anchored to real signed contracts in our benchmark database.
Can my team work together?
Yes. The Estimate plan includes 5 team seats: invite by email, and everyone shares the same projects, estimates, and reports. Enterprise removes the seat limit.
Is my data secure?
Every account’s data is isolated with database-level row security, all traffic is encrypted, logins are rate-limited against brute force, and your estimates are never shared with other customers or used to price their work.
How does the free trial work?
7 days, no credit card: one free Soil Report on a parcel of your choice — USDA soil hazards, jurisdiction risk profile, and the one-page PDF. Estimates, the AI Scope Assistant, and team features unlock the moment you pick a plan.
How do I upgrade, downgrade, or cancel?
Email support@dirtbidai.com and we handle it same-day — online self-serve checkout is coming soon. No long-term contracts on monthly plans.