<p>An RFI that&#39;s really an estimate update is any request where the answer changes quantities, materials, or methods — not just clarifies intent. Treat it as a trigger, not paperwork to file away.</p> <p>Here&#39;s how to handle it:</p> <ol><li><strong>Flag it at intake.</strong> When an RFI response changes a spec, dimension, or system (say, upsized ductwork or a swapped assembly), tag it as scope-impacting before it gets buried in the log.</li></ol> <ol><li><strong>Push the change into the model.</strong> BidLight reads your Revit model directly, so once the design update lands, re-export and let the two AI models reclassify the affected BOQ line items rather than hand-adjusting a spreadsheet.</li></ol> <ol><li><strong>Let pricing catch up automatically.</strong> Because BidLight pulls current labor, equipment, and material costs from its pricing database (blended with Craftsman, 1Build, and RSMeans data), the new quantities come back priced — not just re-measured.</li></ol> <ol><li><strong>Compare before and after.</strong> Since your estimate updates in real time as the design changes, you can show exactly what moved and why — the defensible number you need when a client questions the delta.</li></ol> <ol><li><strong>Bill for the service, don&#39;t absorb it.</strong> A design change that forces a re-estimate is billable work. Turning that turnaround into a paid service is part of what BidLight is built to support.</li></ol> <p>The short version: don&#39;t let an RFI&#39;s answer sit disconnected from your budget. Route it through the model, and let the estimate move with it.</p>