Our Services

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Do you need an experienced Chief Estimator, but not all the time? We can help by acting as your Chief Estimator in a part-time or short-term capacity. We can help you achieve your goals without the expense of a full-time Chief Estimator. Our Fractional Chief Estimator can develop and implement strategies to help the department become more accurate and efficient. We offer a free 30-minute consultation before you commit.

A seasoned Chief Estimator is invaluable because they can: 

• Sort through all the fluff to determine which jobs make the most sense to bid, and perhaps most importantly, train less seasoned estimators to do the same.
• Design and implement processes to streamline your estimating process so that the estimator(s) you already have can bid more work in the same amount of time and do it accurately.
• Understand risks and unforeseen costs.
• Work with you to create a final bid review process that you can implement to make sure accurate bids are submitted.
• Attend/lead bid review meetings, recurring weekly estimating team meetings, and pre-construction hand-off meetings.
• Negotiate with owners and GCs on your behalf.

As a business leader you understand that thorough and accurate estimates are vital to your bottom line. While the hourly fee to contract with an estimating consultant is higher than what you would pay a full-time employee, that consultant saves you money in the long run because you don’t have to pay payroll taxes, sick leave or vacation time, workers’ compensation insurance, etc.

We use your estimating software to create bids with you. If you don’t have software we can recommend the best choice to fit your business or determine the best tool at our disposal for your particular project. We have experience with Bid2Win, BidBow, BlueBeam, HCSS HeavyBid, PlanSwift, ProEstimate, Xactimate, and Excel.  

Occasionally, we may use references such as RSMeans for statistical and regional pricing adjustments.

What’s Included in Our Estimating Services Hourly Rate:

• All communications/meetings required to understand the project, plans, and specifications.
• A detailed estimate/invoice.
• The estimate/invoice as a pdf file.
• Revisions and supplements.
• Communications to address client issues.
• Follow-up conversations when necessary.

Design is the cornerstone of any successful project. It's where ideas take shape, where concepts evolve into concrete plans. And it's during this crucial phase that accurate estimates become invaluable. 

No two projects are alike, and neither are our estimates. We understand the importance of precision at every step of the process and work closely with you, taking the time to understand your unique requirements and challenges, in order to develop accurate estimates.

We can help from the schematic design phase, through design development, and all the way up to final drawings. 

Through our experience and use of softwares like Bid2Win, BidBow, BlueBeam, HCSS HeavyBid, PlanSwift, ProEstimate, Xactimate, and Excel we can provide a cost estimate that’s not just based on unit pricing, but one that incorporates the actual materials, labor, and equipment that will be used to construct the project. Occasionally, we may use references such as RSMeans for statistical and regional pricing adjustments.

What’s Included in Our Design Phase Estimate Hourly Rate:

• All communications/meetings required to understand the project, plans, and specifications.
• A detailed estimate/invoice.
• The estimate/invoice as a pdf file.
• Revisions and supplements.
• Communications to address client issues.
• Follow-up conversations when necessary.

Calendar management, data entry, proofreading, copy writing, and spreadsheet creation and maintenance are just a few of the admin tasks that make your business run more smoothly. For example, having files on past projects isn’t useful if no one knows how to find them. Organization and consistency in file names not only saves aggravation - it saves time. 

Admin Tasks We Offer Include: 

• Create a file naming format that is consistent across the company. No more losing information about past bids or projects because the file isn’t named consistently.
• Create a file organization system to go along with the file naming format so that all of your information is easy to find.
• Create a calendar or bid board to track your bids that’s accessible to everyone.
• Develop information and handouts on past projects that you can easily give to new clients to showcase your experience.
• Find potential subcontractors and/or vendors.
• Set up an online planroom or platform to send bid documents, addenda, etc. to your suppliers and contractors.
• Develop customized tracking spreadsheets.
• Prepare proposals, pre-qualification packages, reports, etc.
• Write copy for your website, marketing materials, etc.

The success of a project often hinges on the capabilities of your Estimating and Project Management team. Accurate estimates and effective project oversight can mean the difference between a job that runs smoothly and one that goes off track. Having the right team in place helps to ensure that timelines, quality, and client satisfaction stay on track.

If you are looking to hire an experienced Estimator or Project Manager, but don't have the time to properly vet applicants, we can help. We will work with you to determine what you need in your ideal candidate and then help you narrow down the applicant pool to those who are worth interviewing. Our team can:

• Write the job description and online job posting.
• Comb through resumes to identify candidates who match your requirements.
• Create questionnaires to gather more information about candidates before the initial interview.
• Draft interview questions.
• Conduct the initial round of interviews in order to present you with the top candidates for the second round.

Once you hire your new team member, we can help get them up to speed on your estimating process and software. We can also hold weekly check-in calls with them to answer questions as they learn your process.