Have the contractor submit a simple sequence with decision dates: investigations, design freeze, permit-dependent work, long-lead orders, demolition, rough plumbing and electrical, inspections, waterproofing, finishes and commissioning. Then ask what happens if one approval or material slips...
There is another possibility: seller motivation is driving the visible cuts more than the market. Check whether the reductions cluster just before listings go under contract, or whether they are repeated cuts followed by withdrawal. New-listing volume matters too. If buyers suddenly have more...