How do building firms estimate construction projects?
Are you a construction firm looking for the best way to estimate new builds, extensions or renovation work? There are a number of different solutions on the market and, in this article, we look at four options. If you’re still estimating by hand, or using a spreadsheet, any of these options will speed up your estimating process whilst giving you accurate and professional quotes.
Estimating with intelligent estimate templates
Estimating as you draft your plans
Taking-off plans for an automatic estimate
Using an estimating service
1. ESTIMATING WITH INTELLIGENT ESTIMATE TEMPLATES
Market-leading estimating software, EstimatorXpress, gives users access to 100s of quote templates, covering a wide range of typical projects including extensions, new builds, garages and renovations. These intelligent quote templates understand what materials, labour and plant are required for different types of project and do the calculations for you. As a result, you can estimate an extension from start to finish in under and hour and renovation work in half that time.
Estimating with EstimatorXpress is highly automated. Start by choosing a quote template which suits your project, say, a ‘Flat Roof Single Storey Extension’. Type in the external dimensions of the walls, the wall height and roof pitch, and quickly review the default specification – make any tweaks as needed. For your walls, the software automatically works out the area of brickwork, blockwork, cavity fill, insulation, finishes and so on, based on the length and height of the external walls. Any windows and doors you add are immediately netted off the wall area. As you check each element of the project, the estimate costs update live screen. You could be forgiven for thinking that automated means inflexible. Fortunately, that’s not the case. You can tailor each estimate to fit the brief or budget, for example changing the cavity insulation or the brick price.
Once your estimate’s done, you’ll have access to a written customer quotation and a host of project management reports. EstimatorXpress is a big-time saver.
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2. ESTIMATING AS YOU DRAFT YOUR PLANS
BuildingWorks is unique to the market. Its Design and Estimate modules enable you to estimate the cost of your project as you draft the plans. Designed for use by the general builder, property developer and house builder, you select what you’re building, draw your building plans, and watch the cost immediately update live on screen as you go. You can then swap products in and out of the estimate to compare see the effect it has on budget, or the thermal value.
As well as a full cost breakdown and client quotation, you’re given a number of useful reports including cost reports, material schedules, profit and cashflow forecasts. This time-saving and money-making software also creates NRM (SMM7 style Bill of Quantities) documents for businesses tendering for projects.
If you’re currently producing your project designs and estimates separately, BuildingWorks may be the solution for you. Try it today:
3. TAKING-OFF PLANS FOR AN AUTOMATIC ESTIMATE
If you’re regularly given client’s plans to take-off, this method could be an even better solution than using an estimate template. Taking-off simply means tracing over existing plans on screen, making some specification choices and firing the drawing off for estimate. Job done.
Take-off & Estimate Kit is a take-off tool which plugs into EstimatorXpress. The process for taking off the plans is simple. Import a PDF, image or AutoCAD file to trace over. Use the smart tracing tools to trace over the walls, floors, doors, windows, roofs and so on, to lift the dimensions from the plans e.g., wall lengths, floor areas, roof pitches and so on. Once the trace is done, and all the dimensions and specification details have been captured, import the drawing into EstimatorXpress – a process which is complete in under two minutes. Using the data from the drawing, EstimatorXpress automatically calculates an accurate estimate of all the material, labour and plant costs. And, as we touched on before, you’ll have a raft of reports, including a Gantt chart, at your fingertips.
If you decide to go for the Take-off & Estimate Kit, you will automatically get the estimating by template functionality too. What’s not to like?
Take a look for yourself:
4. USING AN ESTIMATING SERVICE
The most straightforward way of getting an estimate done is handing the drawings to an estimating service. HBXL Estimating Service is our top pick. They employ a team of UK-based professional estimators who all have first-hand experience on site.
You could use an estimating service for all of your projects or you could use it on trickier or larger projects. Alternatively, you might only employ the services of an estimating service when you’re feeling overrun.
Send your plans and any supporting specification notes using our uploader. HBXL Estimating Service will then give you a quote for carrying out the estimate along with the completion date. If you decide to go ahead, your dedicated estimator will begin work and will be in touch with any queries they have. Once complete, they’ll supply a detailed estimate, customer quotation and report pack.
WHICH APPROACH SUITS YOUR BUILDING FIRM BEST?
We’ve shown you four different ways to achieve an accurate, business-winning estimate and quotation. But which is the best solution for your business?