Why Buy
| You lose money if you underestimate jobs. You lose bids if you overestimate jobs. The solution to both problems is an accurate cost data source. RS Means is that cost data source. |
About RS Means
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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. |
Which Cost Data Book?
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You'll notice we have many different RS Means Cost Data books. Depending on what's involved in your estimate or the scope of work, you may need more than one. The title of each one fits the type of work. |
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.
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The 2012 RS Means Assemblies Cost Data provides thousands of building assembly and component costs. With the a ... more info |
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The 2012 RS Means Building Construction Cost Data is the professional estimator's first choice of reliable pri ... more info |
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The 2012 RS Means Commercial Renovation Cost Data takes the guesswork out of estimating any type of commercial ... more info |
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The 2012 RS Means Concrete & Masonry Cost Data includes the latest unit price data, with illustrated concrete ... more info |
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Stay ahead of the electrical change order 8-ball, with the 2012 RS Means Electrical Change Order Cost Data. Th ... more info |
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The 2012 RS Means Residential Cost Data organizes every aspect of residential construction pricing into 4 majo ... more info |
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The 2012 RS Means Facilities Construction Cost Data 27th Edition meets the costing and pricing needs of anyone ... more info |
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The 2012 RS Means Facilities Maintenance and Repair Cost Data 19th Edition provides detailed cost and estimati ... more info |
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This second edition of RS Means Green Building Cost Data provides the cost data you need to accurately estimat ... more info |
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Correctly estimate Canadian construction costs, with the 2012 Hanscomb's Yardsticks for Costing: Cost Data for ... more info |
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The 2012 RS Means Heavy Construction Cost Data will help you prepare complete and accurate heavy construction ... more info |
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The 2012 RS Means Interior Cost Data 29th Edition provides you with prices and guidance needed to make accurat ... more info |
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The 2012 RS Means Labor Rates for the Construction Industry provides a quick, convenient way to obtain 2012 un ... more info |
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The 2012 RS Means Light Commercial Cost Data 31st Edition features 12,000 updated unit prices and 5,000 assemb ... more info |
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The 2012 RS Means Mechanical Cost Data provides unit costs for materials, methods, labor, equipment, and build ... more info |
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The 2012 RS Means Open Shop Building Construction Cost Data provides over 22,900 unit costs for open shop cons ... more info |
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The 2012 RS Means Plumbing Cost Data contains up-to-date unit price data, systems cost tables, reference table ... more info |
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The 2012 RS Means Residential Cost Data organizes every aspect of residential construction pricing into 4 majo ... more info |
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The 2012 RS Means Contractor's Pricing Guide: 2012 Residential Repair and Remodeling Costs is the cost and bid ... more info |
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The 2012 RS Means Site Work and Landscape Cost Data includes unit and assemblies costs for estimating site wor ... more info |
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The 2012 RS Means Square Foot Costs provides clear descriptions and illustrations of hundreds of residential, ... more info |
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