Construction Codebooks > Estimating Guides

Estimating: How to Create an Accurate Estimate

$35.00


Rating: 4 reviews

PM Intermediate Course 2, Estimating: How to create an accurate estimate. Understanding the correct way to do an estimate helps you bid the job properly and manage it profitably once you get it. This self-paced course requires no textbook or instructor. More Info

Electrical Electrical Estimating Deluxe Library (#ESDVD)

$299.00


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Learn how to do your estimates quickly and accurately. Become proficient in doing job take-offs, determining material costs, and determining labor costs. Because this estimating library by Mike Holt goes beyond just the mechanics of how and teaches you why, you'll More Info

Electrical Electrical Estimating Standard Library (#STESMP)

$149.00


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Electrical Electrical Estimating Supreme Library (#ESTDMP)

$349.00

2011 BNI Facilities Managers Costbook 17th Edition

$109.99

The 2011 BNI Facilities Managers Costbook 17th Edition lets you quickly and accurately estimate the cost of renovations, repairs, and construction for all types of commercial buildings (office buildings, government complexes, schools, medical facilities). More Info

Why Buy

You lose money if you underestimate jobs. You lose bids if you overestimate jobs. To get a positive outcome instead, it helps to have guides and references about the art and science of estimating. These estimating resources teach you how to do accurate project cost estimating, quickly and efficiently.

About RS Means

We also sell the RS Means cost data books.

A trusted name in construction costs for more than 70 years, RS Means offers cost data you can depend on. It's widely considered the gold standard in estimating. And with good reason. The reliably accurate cost data allows you to produce estimates and bids that are also accurate. Do your construction estimates more quickly and efficiently. Use the industry standard: RS Means.

Tips for a Good Estimate

Before you start estimating, you need to understand some core principles. The business landscape is littered with the “bodies” of people who didn’t understand these principles. They did many things right, but the result of their labor was financial loss. Here are six tips to help you produce a more accurate estimate. And produce a financial gain.

Define the scope. Your estimate needs to be for a specific scope of work. Be sure your estimate articulates and defines this clearly. That way, everyone understands exactly what's being estimated.
Use a good cost data source. Well, here you are looking at the RS Means. You've got this one nailed.
Don't include general "fudge factors." Include specific ones. For example, calculate the exact cost of a bad weather day. Then estimate how many such days are likely to occur. That's your bad weather cost estimate, not some arbitrary number like 10%.
List constraints. These include time constraints, access issues, and anything else that might cause delays, produce extra work, or require additional resources. In a separate section of your estimate, include a cost breakdown of these. You won't need this information for the purposes of submitting a bid. But you will need it for purposes of risk assessment, project management, and T&C negotiations.
Include testing and adjustment in your estimate. Cost over-runs are often due to not properly testing as the work progresses.
Don't forget daily mobilization and start-up costs.

Who's Mike?

You'll notice that several of these products are from Mike Holt Enterprises. You probably want to know who Mike is. Well, read on....

Mike Holt is widely recognized as one of the world's most effective electrical instructors. He's also a developer of electrical software, books, videos, and training programs. His extensive use of illustration in all of his training programs makes learning fun.

Mike's dynamic and animated teaching style erases classroom boredom, whether in person or on video. People enjoy his classes and videos, and become totally engaged in the learning process.

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