Estimating

What is Construction Estimating? A Step By Step Guide

Construction estimating calculates total costs during the pre-construction phase of a building project. This includes direct and indirect costs, profit margins, and overhead expenditures. This practice helps contractors and subcontractors effectively manage their expenses, ensuring overall project success.
Using advanced tools and software, the competent estimators perform skillful proposals, quantity takeoffs, and cost estimates, considering the following expenditures:

  • Direct Costs – Cost of materials, labor, and equipment
  • Indirect Costs – Cost of utilities, legal fees, permits, taxes, etc.
  • Labor Costs – Cost of paying your team, including wages, taxes, and overtime
  • Subcontractor Costs – Cost of contracted work, including labor, materials, and equipment

Benefits of Construction Estimating

Important Benefits of Construction Estimating

Time Management

Every contractor's enemy lacks time; therefore, this construction estimating service saves their time by outsourcing the time-consuming and laborious task of determining prices.

Efficient Budgeting

Contractors use this service to keep track of their project costs. Costs are categorized to help project managers save money and stay within their budgets.

Project feasibility:

It helps stakeholders to assess the project’s sustainability before making a huge investment.

Prevent Wastage:

It helps determine the exact quantity of materials, avoiding unnecessary material orders and wastage.

Types of Construction Estimates

Construction Estimates
  1. Preliminary Cost Estimates
    Preliminary estimates help investors, developers, and owners evaluate the project's practicality at the initial stages. With the square footage cost analysis, estimators decide whether the project is worth the investment.
  2. Detailed Cost Estimates
    Engineering firms and architects require design estimates to assess the design alternatives according to the budget. It includes an in-depth observation considering specific project details.
  3. Quantity Takeoff Estimates
    The comprehensive evaluation of materials and labor needed to complete a construction project. The list includes every physical aspect and material such as door knobs, floor tiles, pipes, carpeting, insulation, and many more.
  4. Bid Estimates
    Busy contractors struggle with the complex bid winning process. Construction Estimators facilitate bidding and winning jobs through accurate cost estimation services. They also assist with bid filings and your bidding network profile.
  5. Construction Estimating Process
    A reliable approach to construction estimating involves the following steps:
    Step 1: Assessing the Project Plan
    Step 2: Calculation of the required material
    Step 3: Measurement of various elements
    Step 4: Cost Determination
    Step 5: Presenting the final estimate after a cross-check

Click for more details on the types of construction estimates

Construction Estimating Tools & Software

Automated software, such as Planswift, Trimble, Xactimate, and RS Means, prevents miscellaneous mistakes and improves estimates' overall precision. With the developed cost databases, estimators ensure zip-code pricing of materials and vendors.

Selecting the Right Estimating Service Provider

With so many construction estimation companies in the market, choosing a trustworthy platform can be challenging. But if you’re looking for a one-stop solution for various estimation services, Pro Estimating Services is your ultimate destination. With over 10+ years of expertise, we deliver precise estimates to our valuable clients. We have invested in top-notch estimating software to do the job according to global standards. Our professionals ensure successful bid-winning results. Moreover, we use developed cost databases to offer zip code material and labor pricing.

Our Range of Estimation Services includes:

To serve the various needs of clients, we cover all CSI trades for the following range of estimation services:

  • Residential Estimating Services: Our experts provide detailed and accurate estimates for all residential projects, including customised homes, townhouses, apartments, bungalows, remodelling, and renovation.
  • Commercial Estimating Services: If you’re planning a commercial building project, our team can assist you with accurate cost projections and quantity takeoffs. We deal with all commercial projects, including malls, medical facilities, hotels and motels, official buildings, educational institutes, and more.
  • Industrial Estimating Services: Our team supports all your needs, whether you’re working on a small renovation or a high-rise industrial project. Our project portfolio comprises pharmaceutical plants, warehouses, food processing units, pump stations, and refineries.

CSI Trades Include in the Construction Estimation

With our skills and industrial experience, we provide comprehensive solutions for all CSI trades. A few of our key trades include:

  • Drywall Estimating: Our precise drywall estimates cover drywall sheets, screws, beads, studs, sheathing, acoustic installation, and much more. We apply value engineering tips and double-check the estimates to prevent inaccuracies.
  • Lumber Takeoff: Our lumber takeoff services precisely cover all wood-based materials, such as sheathing, timber, wood decking, and joists.
  • MEP Estimating: We deliver detailed MEP estimates including fire stopping, fireproofing, moisture protection, sprinklers, pipe insulation, heating, HVAC, Sheet Metal, Ductwork, etc.
  • Painting Estimating: Our team efficiently handles your desired demands for Paints, Stains, Chrome finishing, transparent finishing, and other painting requirements.

Why Choose Pro Estimating Services?

  • 24/7 Customer Support
    We remain available anytime to support our customers and address queries.
  • Experience & Skills:
    10+ years of experience in the construction industry ensures reliable outcomes.
  • Quick Turnaround
    Our skilled estimators create and submit your precise construction estimates in 24-48 hours.
  • Customized Solutions:
    We come up with customized solutions to fulfill the various needs of clients.
  • Save money:
    Accurate takeoffs save a construction project's money, time, and cost overruns.

Unforeseen Challenges of Construction Estimation

These are a few problems faced by construction estimators, along with the solutions to manage them:

  • Varying material and Labor costs: Our estimators employ developed databases to ensure consistent pricing.
  • Evolving Construction Trends: Our experts stay up-to-date with modern trends, technology, and construction methods.
  • Tight Project Deadlines: With years of practical experience, our professionals deliver your estimates on time to meet the tight bidding deadlines.
  • Unforeseen Risks: When unusual risks arise, our professionals use the most reliable approach to overcome them.

Future Trends in Construction Estimating

With the emerging technology, the construction industry is also leading towards evolution. The upcoming future trends include:

  • AI technology: It contributes to better accuracy and time-saving opportunities.
  • Eco-friendly practices: Aims to minimize the negative impacts of construction on the environment.
  • Cloud-based Software: It enhances real-time collaboration and overall cost assessment.

Conclusion:

Reliable construction estimating is crucial for the success of building projects. The estimate’s accuracy can make or break the project, risking a firm’s survival. Whether you’re a general contractor or a homeowner planning a building project, rely on an authentic services provider such as Pro Estimating Services. By collaborating with us, you’ll get a variety of benefits, including a high bid-winning ratio, dependable services, the quickest turnaround, and market-competitive rates.

FAQs

What are the four main factors that are considered while estimating?

Estimating is a critical process that requires careful consideration of various factors. Accuracy, Scope, Time, and Risk are four essential factors to be considered when estimating.

Some common mistakes include underestimating the labor cost, not considering the site environment, and neglecting the project scope. Budget might also go off due to the fluctuating prices of material. To address this issue, estimators should employ developed cost databases; ensuing zip-code based pricing.

Construction estimators use the best strategies to outsource cost-effective solutions for complex projects. They are experienced in utilizing advanced software to avoid inaccuracies in estimates. At Pro Estimating Services , we have a team of qualified estimators serving a range of clients including contractors, subcontractors, homeowners, and builders. With a blend of technical knowledge and experience, our experts deliver accurate cost breakdown of projects.

Please Fill Out The Form

    author-avatar

    About James Harden

    I'm James, a professional cost estimator with extensive experience working across various sectors of the construction industry. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to collaborate with contractors, developers, and architects on projects of all sizes. I specialize in accurate budgeting, quantity takeoffs, and bid preparation that helps teams stay on track and competitive.