About Construction Estimating Checklists And How To Organize Them

Just got your contractor's license? Not ready for those expensive softwares that help you with the fancy estimate proposals? Well you will need at the very least some sort of checklist. There is a lot of free education and tips online to help you design a good construction estimating checklist. From how to methods to tips, all you have to do is Google it. But here is a basic structure of what your list should consist of:

Assuming you have the name of your company and address already registered, your form should have the following key items on it: Client information: Full name, address, phone numbers both work and at home, email address if any. Projection description: Brief description of project to insure that your estimate includes all the client wants, example would be Kitchen remodel or Bathroom remodel or roof repair, etc. Project ID: as your business grows and you end up deciding on what software will best help you manage your business, you will need each project to have the separate id. As the hope that the client will continue to use you for other projects, each project should have their own identification. The Estimate: Now break down all the different steps the job will entail with a cost of 10% more that you think you can do the job for. This gives the client some wiggle room to negotiate bringing you back down to where you would have estimated the job to cost but giving the client a feeling of win/win negotiations. Total the cost. But the most important part of this estimate is that it should have an expiration date. You have no control over material cost but know that your supplier revises their cost on a particular day of the week, then your estimate should be in direct correlation to that cost. Your suppliers will give you an estimate of cost in writing guaranteeing the quote till a particular date. Make sure to make note of that date and make sure to include that date in your estimate.

Now make sure to organize your estimate by phases, no more than 3 phases. As you will ask for upfront payment per phase and schedule a walk through through the completion of every phase with the client. Make sure to charge them for walk through inspections as the project may require city inspections in addition to your detail inspection which cost time. But this will also help you control the client wanting to do an unscheduled inspections which would take you away from your work and may be a insurance liability.

This should give you a good idea how to get started making an effective construction estimating checklist.