EPISODE · Jun 4, 2026 · 55 MIN
The FREEcon Problem
from Proper Precon Podcast · host Troy Simon and Trey Darnell
Every budget, every early estimate, every "can you just take a quick look at this?" — it all costs someone something. But in most cases, that cost is invisible. Welcome to FreeCon.In this episode, Troy and Trey sit down with Mike Navarro, CTO and Co-Founder of Ediphi, a 20-year construction veteran who went from lead estimator on complex high-rise projects to building the software he always wished he had. Together, they dig into one of the most quietly frustrating dynamics in the industry — pre-construction work that is deeply valuable, rarely compensated, and almost never talked about openly.In this episode:What "FreeCon" actually is — and why it's not always a bad thingWhy the pre-construction timeline stretches to 30 months when it shouldn'tThe PETA Factor: how endless pricing rounds inflate sub costs and erode trade partner relationshipsHow scope clarity drives cost down — and scope mystery drives it upWhy the estimator's voice needs to be in the room before the design is finishedThe shift from "flat line estimates" to true pricing models where everything is interdependentStrategic FreeCon vs. subsidizing an owner's decision-making — where's the line?Why Mike went from "pry Excel from my cold dead hands" to building cloud-first pre-con technologyFast Five closes out the episode with rapid-fire takes on tools vs. behavior, owner mindset shifts, and finishing the sentence: "The estimate stops being just a number when..."If you've ever priced the same project five times under a verbal commitment and a prayer — this one is for you.🔗 Learn more about Ediphi at ediphi.com
What this episode covers
Every budget, every early estimate, every "can you just take a quick look at this?" — it all costs someone something. But in most cases, that cost is invisible. Welcome to FreeCon.In this episode, Troy and Trey sit down with Mike Navarro, CTO and Co-Founder of Ediphi, a 20-year construction veteran who went from lead estimator on complex high-rise projects to building the software he always wished he had. Together, they dig into one of the most quietly frustrating dynamics in the industry — pre-construction work that is deeply valuable, rarely compensated, and almost never talked about openly.In this episode:What "FreeCon" actually is — and why it's not always a bad thingWhy the pre-construction timeline stretches to 30 months when it shouldn'tThe PETA Factor: how endless pricing rounds inflate sub costs and erode trade partner relationshipsHow scope clarity drives cost down — and scope mystery drives it upWhy the estimator's voice needs to be in the room before the design is finishedThe shift from "flat line estimates" to true pricing models where everything is interdependentStrategic FreeCon vs. subsidizing an owner's decision-making — where's the line?Why Mike went from "pry Excel from my cold dead hands" to building cloud-first pre-con technologyFast Five closes out the episode with rapid-fire takes on tools vs. behavior, owner mindset shifts, and finishing the sentence: "The estimate stops being just a number when..."If you've ever priced the same project five times under a verbal commitment and a prayer — this one is for you.🔗 Learn more about Ediphi at ediphi.com
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The FREEcon Problem
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