Every construction loan is built on a budget the bank approved. When your actual costs drift above that budget line by line, two things happen: your draws get short-funded, and you cover the gap out of pocket. Tracking budget vs. actual is how you see it coming.
Why overruns hide until it’s too late
A single line creeping over rarely feels urgent. But a few lines over across a build add up to a number the bank won’t fund — and you find out at draw time, when it’s hardest to fix.
DrawReady tracks actual vs. budgeted cost on every line so an overrun never surprises you at draw time.
Stop chasing draw documents.
DrawReady shows you what’s missing before you submit.
Start your 30-day free trialHow to track it so nothing slips
- Start from the bank-approved budget, line by line
- Log actual costs against each line as they happen
- Flag any line trending over before it’s paid
- Reallocate or request a change order early, not at draw time
| If you catch it… | You can… |
|---|---|
| Before payment | Reallocate or renegotiate |
| At draw time | Only absorb the gap |
| After the draw | Cover it out of pocket |
Frequently asked questions
What is a change order?
A documented change to the approved scope or budget — the clean way to handle a line that has to go over.
How often should I update actuals?
As costs happen. Waiting until draw time is exactly how overruns become surprises.
Related reading
Construction Budgeting
Retainage in construction draws, explained
Retainage quietly holds back part of every draw. If you don’t plan for it, your final draw comes up short. Here’s how it works.
Construction Draws
What is a construction draw?
A construction draw is a scheduled release of money from your construction loan as work is completed. Here’s what goes into one — and what gets it rejected.
Construction Loans
Construction draw schedules, explained
Your draw schedule decides when money is released and how much. Get it wrong and you run out of cash mid-phase. Here’s how they work.
Lien Waivers
Lien waivers on construction draws
A lien waiver proves a sub was paid so they can’t lien your project. Miss one and your draw stalls — or you pay twice. Here’s how to handle them.
Ready to get your next draw bank-ready?
Your project shouldn’t stop because your draw isn’t ready. DrawReady checks it before it reaches your lender.