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02-06-2009, 06:23 PM
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#1
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New General Contractor
Trade:
General Contractor
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: DC Area - Northern VA
Posts: 70
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Help me please!!! HOW TO DO AN ESTIMATE
OK, I am well over my head and need some general estimate advise. I had a falling out with the guy I was partners with in a remodeling business and now I am on my own and clueless on some issues. The company was his the license was mine. I started a new company and moved the license with it, so now I am ready to do business, BUT I don't have experience in some very important aspects of the business, so I have to wing it until I get my bearings -- I am very resourceful and have a lot of business experience (mostly corporate).
My ex-partner handled estimates and project management. I handled the administrative (licenses, legal, marketing, etc). I have two large jobs I need to estimate and I have no clue how to start coming up with a reasonable estimate that will be competitive yet not hose myself in the end. Anyone have any ideas as to how I can estimate something using some sort of rule of thumb? (i.e. square foot costs/ time and material + X, etc) The specifics are:
1) The job is in the DC area, in Maryland.
2) It is finishing a completely unfinished basement (enclosing a large office), a couple of rooms and the laundry room), and leveling the back yard for a pool (we are not doing the pool) and building a stone wall along the driveway.
PART TWO:
Is there estimating software or a book that would make sense to get for future jobs? What is the best way to prepare myself to manage estimate generation? Automation? I am a biG proponent of technology, so are products like Bid4Build and others worth the investment? Are there other ways to get myself to speed fast estimate/bidding end.
I will read this great forum extensively and sort myself out, but if some of you can help me out on my initial approach it would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!
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02-06-2009, 06:29 PM
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#2
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Sean
Trade:
General Contractor
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Cullman, AL
Posts: 3,814
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02-06-2009, 06:29 PM
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#3
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Certified Remodeler
Trade:
Kitchen bath remodeler
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: North Oaks,MN
Posts: 3,197
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I'm getting some popcorn and a drink, look for RB on this forum and have him sell and run your jobs and you just learn how he does it. I'll be back after the popcorns done. 
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02-06-2009, 06:31 PM
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#4
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Brock
Trade:
Residential Remodeler
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Midwest
Posts: 902
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Wlcome. Wow I heard it was a little slow in D.C. right now. Good for you on the work.
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02-06-2009, 06:32 PM
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#5
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Brock
Trade:
Residential Remodeler
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Midwest
Posts: 902
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brock
Wlcome. Wow I heard it was a little slow in D.C. right now. Good for you on the work.
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That was suprisingly nice. I must be coming down with a cold.
.
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The Following User Says Thank You to Brock For This Useful Post:
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02-06-2009, 06:34 PM
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#6
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Brock
Trade:
Residential Remodeler
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Midwest
Posts: 902
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brock
That was suprisingly nice. I must be coming down with a cold.
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and I just replied to myself.
will someone banish me to
the diy site for a week.
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02-06-2009, 06:35 PM
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#7
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Professiona Instigator
Trade:
Design Build Remodeling Contractor Washington, DC
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Washington, DC/ Maryland
Posts: 6,554
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If you truly need help and your in the DC area I will help you. Email me your contact info
info@rbsremodeling.com
__________________
Being an idiot frees a man from having to live up to others peoples expectations. 
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02-06-2009, 06:37 PM
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#8
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Pro
Trade:
Contractor
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Western PA
Posts: 695
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02-06-2009, 06:39 PM
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#9
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Pro
Trade:
Contractor
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Western PA
Posts: 695
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02-06-2009, 06:44 PM
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#10
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Pro
Trade:
General Contracting
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Northwest Hills of CT
Posts: 290
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rbsremodeling
If you truly need help and your in the DC area I will help you. Email me your contact info
info@rbsremodeling.com |
you're not going to trick him into surprise butseks are you?
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The Following User Says Thank You to dubz For This Useful Post:
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02-06-2009, 06:46 PM
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#11
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Pro
Trade:
Contractor
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Western PA
Posts: 695
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dubz
you're not going to trick him into surprise butseks are you?
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The Following 7 Users Say Thank You to precisionbuild For This Useful Post:
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02-06-2009, 06:50 PM
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#12
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Brock
Trade:
Residential Remodeler
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Midwest
Posts: 902
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dubz
you're not going to trick him into surprise butseks are you?
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Ladys and Gentlemen.
The horses are loaded in the gate.
AND THEY ARE OFF!!!
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02-06-2009, 07:21 PM
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#13
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Pro
Trade:
GC
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,395
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Titodbuilder
I have two large jobs I need to estimate and I have no clue how to start coming up with a reasonable estimate that will be competitive yet not hose myself in the end. Anyone have any ideas as to how I can estimate something using some sort of rule of thumb? (i.e. square foot costs/ time and material + X, etc)
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It would have been so much more fun if you had typed only that part..
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02-06-2009, 07:29 PM
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#14
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Pro
Trade:
Carpentry & Remodeling
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: N.Y. State
Posts: 642
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Big proponent of technology???? Nah c'mon
Any field experience??
__________________
Do what you would do, as if i won't Do anything after you Did It!
Last edited by D.Foster; 02-06-2009 at 07:33 PM.
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02-06-2009, 07:32 PM
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#15
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Pro
Trade:
Roofer, Remodeler,
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Richmond, Va.
Posts: 1,913
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A hint friend. In the picture. The elephant is about to come up with a number.
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The Following 9 Users Say Thank You to tinner666 For This Useful Post:
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02-06-2009, 07:34 PM
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#16
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Pro
Trade:
Carpentry & Remodeling
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: N.Y. State
Posts: 642
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brock
Ladys and Gentlemen.
The horses are loaded in the gate.
AND THEY ARE OFF!!!
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Hey DIY chat for you!!
__________________
Do what you would do, as if i won't Do anything after you Did It!
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02-06-2009, 07:36 PM
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#17
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Pro
Trade:
GC
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,395
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Man, how I love this site.
A guy comes on and posts that he needs estimating help, and he actually sounds kinda legit, spoke politely, not stupid or anything, he just got dropped in over his head in the contracting biz.
Within 11 replies, there is a photo of an elephant with his trunk up a rhino's ass.
 
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The Following 10 Users Say Thank You to Bodger For This Useful Post:
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02-06-2009, 07:38 PM
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#18
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Painter
Trade:
Painter
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Toledo,Ohio
Posts: 656
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Quote:
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Within 11 replies, there is a photo of an elephant with his trunk up a rhino's ass.
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Bodger,
You owe me a new keyboard, since I just spit soda all over my old one. 
__________________
SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.
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02-06-2009, 07:39 PM
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#19
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Estimator, Engineer
Trade:
Mechanical, Structural
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 468
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My friend, there are no secrets or shortcuts. Estimating truly is an art. I can do it. My partners can't. And it can't be taught on a forum. And if you're going to buy software when you haven't even done it by hand yet, then expect SISO.
My advice to you is to hire a firm that does take-offs and estimates, or hire a consultant to quickly teach you. We have a couple take-off guys in my area, and some days I'm tempted to call them because I'm up to my gills in quotes. But even so, they won't do labor counts, just the take off. Which is kind of good, because I like total control over the labor counts. Unfortunately, you also need a drawing to start with.
Longer term, you need to start educating yourself. Best way to do that is the following:
1. Buy some books or go to the library. The books all say the same things. Start reading, now.
2. Learn how to do a detailed take off first, then worry about square foot or unit estimating. Unless you want to wing it, which I don't recommend. Break the job down, and do all of the take offs.
3. Learn how to build labor counts off of your takeoffs. Every trade is different.
4. As you get some miles under your feet, COLLECT DATA. Nothing beats an in-house database. Build up some unit cost models to make quick budget estimating easier. Example, for me, large, deep equipment footings for cell towers and such with excavation, forms, etc, is $675 a yard. Industrial steel erected is $5300 a ton. And these are just budget estimates. Detailed estimates go down to the nut and bolt.
And for any mechanicals out there, OTTAVIANO RULES.
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02-06-2009, 07:40 PM
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#20
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Member
Trade:
Painting Contractor
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Boise, Idaho
Posts: 86
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Quote:
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The elephant is about to come up with a number.
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LMAO 
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