Construction Codebooks > RS Means Estimating Guides > 2012 RS Means Residential Cost Data 31st Edition

2012 RS Means Residential Cost Data 31st Edition is completely updated and organizes every aspect of residential construction pricing into 4 major estimating sections:

• Square Foot Costs - Over 30 reliable square foot cost models for popular types of residential construction in a simple-to-use format.
• Assemblies Costs - 100 commonly used residential construction systems with a wide variety of alternative specifications and prices.
• Unit Costs - Residential unit costs covering more than 9,000 items Location Factors - Over 930 U.S. zip codes and selected locations in Canada to adjust material and labor costs.
• Easy-to-use, reliable price information for adjusters, architects, contractors, developers, finance professionals, and project managers.

• Adjust your preliminary estimate as design decisions are made.
• Compare systems and costs, and customize assemblies for improved estimating accuracy.
• Show the customer why your bid is accurate, vs. the "guaranteed to fail" bid of a lowball competitor who is just guessing.
• Handle change orders without losing your shirt (or your rear end).
• Spot-check a price, fine-tune your preliminary figures, and put together a unit price estimate from site work to finish work.

Adjust your preliminary estimate as design decisions are made, compare systems and costs, and customize assemblies for improved estimating accuracy. Spot-check a price, fine-tune your preliminary figures, and put together a unit price estimate from site work to finish work.

The 2011 RS Means Residential Cost Data also provides you with:

• Square Foot Costs. More than 30 reliable square foot cost models for popular types of residential construction in a simple-to-use format.
• Assemblies Costs. 100 commonly used residential construction systems with a wide variety of alternative specifications and prices.
• Unit Costs. Residential unit costs covering more than 10,000 items for the major CSI divisions.
•  Location Factors. Over 930 US zip codes and selected locations in Canada to adjust material and labor costs.
• Reference Section. 30 pages of definitive information on construction costs, how costs are developed, and where they come from.
• User Guide. The updated "How to Use" pages will help you make the most from your modest investment in this estimating resource.

Plus:

• More than 11,000 completely updated unit cost line items and 4,000 assemblies for residential building components.
• City Cost Indexes and Location Factors for over 930 U.S. and Canadian locations, so you can quickly and easily customize the data to your region.
• Equipment rental costs.
• Crew sizes, labor hours, and labor rates.
• Detailed reference information

And:

• FREE RS Means Hotline: Personalized help in using RS Means data effectively in your estimating.
• FREE email subscription to the RS Means quarterly update service online newsletter - a comprehensive report on market indicators and construction price trends.

• 1. General Requirements.
• 2. Existing Conditions.
• 3. Concrete; 4. Masonry.
• 5. Metals.
• 6. Wood, Plastics, and Composites.
• 7. Thermal and Moisture Protection.
• 8. Openings.
• 9. Finishes.
• 10. Specialties.
• 11. Equipment.
• 12. Furnishings.
• 13. Special Construction.
• 14. Conveying Equipment.
• 22. Plumbing.
• 23. Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning.
• 26. Electrical.
• 27. Communications.
• 28. Electronic Safety and Security.
• 31. Earthwork.
• 32. Exterior Improvements.
• 33. Utilities.

• 1. Site Work.
• 2. Foundations.
• 3. Framing.
• 4. Exterior Walls.
• 5. Roofing.
• 6. Interiors.
• 7. Specialties.
• 8. Mechanical.
• 9. Electrical.

• Equipment Rental Costs.
• Crews.
• Location Factors.
• Reference Tables.

1. Define the scope. Your estimate needs to be for a specific scope of work. Be sure your estimate articulates and defines this clearly so everyone understands exactly what's being estimated.
2. Use a good cost data source. Well, here you are looking at the RS Means. You've got this one nailed.
3. 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%.
4. 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.
5. Include testing and adjustment in your estimate. Cost over-runs are often due to failure to properly test as the work progresses.
6. Don't forget daily mobilization and start-up costs.