When your estimated costs are reasonably accurate and you’re using the correct markup for your business, you can be confident you’re charging the right price for your work. The right price gives you enough money to cover all job costs, overhead expenses, and make at least 8% net profit.

If you’re responsible for estimating remodeling or renovation projects, new homes, specialty work, or light commercial projects, this book is for you. You might be an estimator working for someone else, or you might be the business owner who also does the sales and estimating for your business.

The book is divided into multiple short chapters for easy reference. It discusses:

• different methods of estimating
• details to tie down before you begin the estimate
• estimating labor
• labor rates, how to calculate, and which one to use
• working with other contractors
• accounting for errors
• adjusting for difficulty
• material and installed allowances
• and much more

Estimating isn’t difficult when you have a system in place. The purpose of this book is to help you create that system. It’s an approach to estimating that helps you estimate without having to think about the process. An orderly approach makes estimating easier and more accurate.

Estimating takes work. It requires dedication, focus, and practice to get it right. But it isn’t as difficult when you have a system in place. The size of the project might vary but the process doesn’t change, and this book is about learning the process.

This book doesn’t guarantee a profit on the jobs you estimate, and it doesn’t guarantee perfect estimates. It’s up to you to do the work. There’s a lot of information included; take what works for you.

FAQ’s

What’s the difference between this and the Profitable Estimating Training class?
If your estimates consistently have an error factor that is in the 5% to 10% range, then your system of estimating needs to change. The book Estimating Construction Profitably will show you how to develop a system or revamp your existing system to eliminate the errors now being made and make your work profitable.
Once you have a system in place that reduces your error factor, then it is time to do some practice estimates that will help you improve your accuracy and speed of takeoff. Our Profitable Estimating Training class will take you step by step through 6 estimates starting with a small bath remodel and working up to a whole house remodel. This class takes time and mental effort. You will invest between 40 and 50 hours of hard mental work to compile your 6 estimates. When done, however, you will be able estimate almost any job you will run into and do so with an error factor of 2% or less.

What about forms?
A sample estimate sheet and checklist are included, along with access to downloads allowing you to save both of these forms for easy use as an Excel spreadsheet or rtf format for use in any word processing software.

Who is the target audience?
If you’re responsible for estimating remodeling or renovation projects, new homes, specialty work, or light commercial projects, this book is for you. You might be an estimator working for someone else, or you might be the business owner who also does the sales and estimating for your business.

How will I get the eBook?
A download link for the eBooks will be available after placing your order. You will also receive a confirmation email with a download link.

Specifications

The printed book is softcover, autographed, 8-1/2″ x 11″, 90 pages.

The eBook is formatted for Nook and Kindle and other eReaders. The .mobi format is for Kindle readers. The .epub format is compatible with almost every other eBook reader and all Smartphones. (If you order the wrong format, just let us know.)

If you don’t own an eReader or a smartphone with a reading app, eBook software is required if you plan to read this on your computer. Free software is available at calibre-ebook (our recommendation) or Adobe Digital.