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Charging for Estimates

By Michael Stone

If you’ve been in construction sales very long, you’ve met potential customers who ask for an estimate, but after a lot of work you learn they were just shopping.


When Success Looks Impossible

By Michael Stone

After reading our books and trying to do things right, why is he still not making any money?


Labor Rate for Construction

By Michael Stone

I’m frequently asked for the “industry standard” rate per hour for various types of work. There isn’t an industry standard markup, and there isn’t an industry standard hourly labor rate.


Business or Charity?

By Michael Stone

If you’re a business owner and take on a project out of the goodness of your heart, recognize you might not get paid and will be funding the project.


Price Fixing in Construction

By Michael Stone

During a recent survey, comments were made about price fixing. They referenced the Sherman Antitrust Act and association warnings about the appearance of price fixing.


Estimating Errors Cost Money

By Michael Stone

Estimating the cost of a remodeling, renovation or specialty project accurately is critical if you want to be profitable.


Create Accurate Estimates

By Michael Stone

If you forget to include the cost of insulation, you’ll be paying for it out of your own pocket.


Estimating Labor in Construction

By Michael Stone

Our last newsletter triggered a question on estimating labor.


How to Estimate Construction Costs

By Michael Stone

Estimating errors cost money. Lower your error factor by considering these common mistakes.


You Have Better Things to Do than Estimate

By Michael Stone

Getting a commitment from potential clients is critical if you want to save yourself a ton of time and work putting together an estimate that won’t go anywhere. You have better things to do with your time.


Employees: Details that Cost You Money

By Michael Stone

Nothing is more frustrating than to work hard only to find out your business isn’t making money. Michael discusses three things that can make a big difference on the bottom line.


Unit Cost Estimating

By Michael Stone

Unit cost estimating is breaking down a project to simple assemblies. It’s the best way to consistently acquire accurate estimates.


Estimating Construction

By Michael Stone

Estimating construction isn’t easy. When profits are down, missing the estimate on jobs is almost always part of the reason.


Estimating Construction Profitably

By Michael Stone

Estimating Construction Profitably is a guide to estimating; or more accurately, a guide to creating your own estimating system.


Surprises Aren’t

By Michael Stone

Estimate your jobs properly so surprises don’t happen.


Business Survival

By Michael Stone

I often start the year with a reminder to check your business practices, and this year I think it’s more important than ever to get on top of and make sure you have your business in order.


Resolve Estimate Details Before Quoting

By Michael Stone

His salesperson sold a kitchen remodel without resolving some details. The homeowner insisted it wouldn’t be a big deal. It was a big deal.


Estimating Construction Costs

By Michael Stone

Estimating errors cost money, because the purpose of a construction estimate is to know how much to price a job.


Free Estimates

By Michael Stone

What you do has value. Respect your time and your knowledge.


Building Inspectors and Your Estimate

By Michael Stone

The building inspector who shows up can increase the cost of your project. That’s why you need to add an inspector factor to your estimate.


Your Labor Rate and Your Markup

By Michael Stone

Using the wrong labor rate, or using someone else’s markup when you don’t know their assumptions, is one of the biggest mistakes we see and the difference can be thousands of dollars.


Estimating Labor, Accounting for Trash

By Michael Stone

Estimating a construction project requires working through the details. The better you cover those details, the more accurate your estimate.


Preparing to Estimate

By Michael Stone

Estimating is necessary, but it isn’t easy; it’s hard, tedious work. There are four basic things you need before you begin your estimate.


Guidelines for Success

By Michael Stone

Guidelines to a more successful construction-related business.


Estimating Incomplete or Conceptual Plans

By Michael Stone

To be blunt: projects like this are a waste of time. I’ve rarely if ever seen a request like this turn into a contract


Construction Estimating: The Basics

By Michael Stone

The basics of construction estimating, so you can create more accurate estimates in a shorter time.


An Opinion on Itemized Estimates

By Michael Stone

A building owner challenges our statement that contractors shouldn’t itemize their estimates.


Itemized Estimates

By Michael Stone

Why clients request itemized estimates, and how you should respond.


Pricing Mistakes

By Michael Stone

Everyone, and I do mean everyone, who has ever compiled an estimate has made a math error that put knots in their stomach once it was realized.


Estimated Time for a Construction Project

By Michael Stone

If your employees consistently take longer than you estimated, you need to change your method of estimating. The human body can only work so fast.


Estimating, Labor Burden, Cost of Goods Sold

By Michael Stone

When you own a small business you wear a lot of hats. Understanding the numbers might not be your favorite hat, but numbers are important because they show where you stand financially.


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