Elevate takeoffs for faster bids and increased project success for FREE. See Details Here.

PlanHub’s Q2 Research Reveals Many Opportunities. Register for the Webinar and Learn More

Construction Estimator: Role, Responsibilities, and More

Construction Estimator

A good construction estimator is key to a profitable project. If an estimator makes a mistake, the company could lose money on the project, so it’s important to ensure accuracy. We’ve put together this article as a summary of a construction estimator’s role, responsibilities, and the skills necessary to become one.

Construction estimator role

A construction estimator provides pricing for a proposed scope of work or project. In order to do this, the cost estimator must understand how the project will be built. The cost estimator prices the materials, equipment, and labor required to perform the work. The price must be competitive, but not so low that the company loses money. Most construction estimators work with a team, including other construction estimators, project managers, construction project management, and marketing personnel.

Construction estimator’s responsibilities

An estimator’s primary responsibility is to determine the total cost for a project or a particular scope of work. The scope of work is usually defined by drawings and specifications created by an architect or engineer. The estimator uses these drawings and specifications to create a material list or take-off. The take-off lists each material, the quantity required for the project, any equipment needed to install it, and how much time it will take to perform the work.

Once the take-off is completed, the estimator assigns a price to each material, equipment, and labor unit that is used. The price must also include costs such as overhead expenses, and a certain amount of profit, usually calculated as a percentage of the total cost. Estimators often use past project experience to help inform their current accurate estimates.

The final step is to write up a proposal for the customer that details the work inclusions, exclusions, and alternates. Construction cost estimators for a general contractor may also be responsible for assessing proposals from subcontractors to determine who offers the best pricing. If the contractor’s proposal is approved for construction, the estimator hands the project off to the project manager.

Post projects in minutes, drive more business. Find over + 300,000 qualified subcontractors and get to work quicker. Request a demo!

Estimator skill set

An estimator benefits from having the following skills:

  • They should be detailed oriented
  • Accuracy is extremely important
  • Math is involved in calculating pricing
  • They should be able to read and interpret plans and specifications
  • They must be able to communicate and work with a team

Estimator experience and education

Estimators should have a well-rounded knowledge of construction and design. This can come from college courses in engineering or architecture, or from experience working in the construction industry. Manufacturing or construction experience is beneficial to help an estimator understand how a project is built.

Since estimators are working with material counts and pricing, they need to have math skills. Although software and computers do most of the calculations, it’s good to have a math knowledge to draw on.

Estimator tools

Estimators use a variety of tools for taking off work and pricing.

  • Estimating software – Estimators use this software to calculate and price the materials, equipment, and labor needed to complete a project. Using estimating software helps organize the take-off process, ensuring that nothing is missed.
  • Pricing database – Estimators often use a pricing database to provide costs for the material and labor cost needed to complete the project. The database may be specific to their company or may be a general database available to all contractors. Estimators must know how to use these databases to look up construction costs and installation times.
  • Architectural or engineering scale – Architectural or engineering scales, which look similar to a ruler, help estimators perform material take-offs. Plans are drawn to scale, and a scale helps translate the scale of the document to real-world dimensions. Electronic scales are also available.
  • Plan reading software – Most project plans are sent in PDF format. Some companies use special software to help them perform more accurate take-offs on PDF drawings. Others use AutoCAD software to get information directly from the model space. This software is not required but can make estimating a project easier and improve accuracy.
  • Spreadsheets – There are still a lot of contractors that use spreadsheets for their cost estimation and proposals. They are useful if users know how to use them correctly. There are often mathematical and typing errors, which can cause a company to lose money on a project. Spreadsheets should be checked and reviewed multiple times to ensure their accuracy.

Often estimators are asked to search for and find new work to bid. Using a lead site like PlanHub makes an estimator’s job easier. You can set up alerts to email you when projects requiring your trade are posted in your service area. General contractors can also use the site to reach out directly to subcontractors and invite them to bid on their projects. PlanHub makes finding new work to bid easy, ensuring business success into the future.

For more construction-related resources like How to Create a Construction Schedule and Automation in Construction, visit the PlanHub blog today.

If you are interested in general contractor software free or want to find new construction projects, check out our construction bidding websites.

Be the first to know

PlanHub insights, resources, and news, sent directly to your inbox.

    planhub
    planhub icon

    Data and Deep Insights

    We make construction smarter by connecting with the right people, at the right time, for the right project.

    With our technology and data intelligence, we empower construction professionals to easily build the right business relationships, streamline pre construction processes, and make efficient decisions.

    From competitive intelligence in each project allowing you to know how many other contractors are downloading or bidding to insights as to contractors’ performance, we provide the data you need to lead your business to success.

    By providing faster, simpler, and unmatched data insights in each step of the pre construction process, PlanHub helps your business lay a strong foundation for the success of the rest of the construction process.

    planhub icon

    Bid Leveler & Proposal builder

    Comparing bids to one another has never been easier. Users can now see bids side by side, compare bid amounts, and review subcontractors’ certifications and qualifications all in one place.

    Bid Leveler’s apples-to-apples approach allows you to easily drill down and see detailed, easy-to-scan cost breakdowns. Indicate bid preference, hide bids that don’t meet your needs, and request needed information from subs.

    planhub icon

    Full Bid Management

    From the initial decision to pursue a project to the final bid submission and follow up, bid management plays a central role in pre construction.

    Effectively managed bids during the preconstruction phase set the stage for a successful project execution and satisfied clients.

    Streamline bid management from project posting to estimating, bidding, and awarding in one place with easy project posting, project-contractor automatic matching based on trades, location, and qualification with PlanHub.

    Use bid planner, bid builder, bid leveler, and award tools to always know what’s going on with each project and bid.

    planhub icon

    Estimation and TakeOff

    Let’s face it—time is money. And the more time it takes to perform takeoffs and submit bids, the more you risk losing out on valuable revenue opportunities. Manual methods and locally installed desktop software slow your takeoff process, and many digital solutions currently on the market can be overly complex and not user-friendly. 

    Build faster takeoffs, get more bids out the door, and win more projects. Forget pen and paper, outdated desktop software, and overly complicated digital takeoff solutions. PlanHub’s easy-to-use Takeoff tool helps you and your team build accurate takeoffs faster, minimize errors and material waste, and win more projects that boost your business growth. Performing your takeoffs with PlanHub allows you to:

    • Streamline and integrate your process: Perform your takeoffs in the same platform you use to manage your network and bids.
    • Avoid costly estimating errors: Get better accuracy with digital tools instead of traditional, mistake-prone pen and paper.
    • Collaborate easily: Share and work with your team, no matter where you—or they—are located.
    • Submit more bids and win more projects: Get quality bids in front of general contractors faster and get ahead of your competition.
    planhub
    planhub icon

    Document Management

    Organize, store, and manage various documents, blueprints, drawings and other information related to projects before the actual construction phase begins.

    This phase is crucial for setting the foundation of a successful construction project, and effective document management plays a significant role in ensuring that all necessary information is accessible, accurate, and up-to-date to all interested parties.

    Access, review, work on, and share large complex documents in one platform with amazing speed. From project definition, drawing management, takeoff, estimation, bid management, and contracts, everything happens in PlanHub.

    planhub crm
    planhub icon

    CRM

    Be part of a construction professionals’ ecosystem that enhances collaboration, streamlines project management, and fosters smart relationships between companies, construction professionals, and projects.

    Enjoy seamless communication, build strong relationships, and streamlines project management. By leveraging the power of connections and collaboration, we enhance efficiency, save time and resources, and drive collective growth in the industry.

    planhub network
    planhub icon

    1M+ pre-qualified network

    PlanHub is the leading platform that connects companies, construction professionals, and projects in the pre-construction industry, focusing on building and developing meaningful relationships to enhance efficiency and productivity.

    We have integrated general contractors, subcontractors, and material suppliers’ workflows in one platform to simplify the complex back and forth usually present in preconstruction. By allowing all interactions to be done through PlanHub, tracking projects and relationships is much easier, saving contractors and material suppliers time and money. Interactions in the platform are tagged and measured to provide insights to users.

    General contractors create bid packages that are shared in PlanHub as projects. They can include templatized lists of all CSI cost items as part of the new Baseline feature. Baseline allows for faster and more accurate bid requests, facilitates homogenization of subcontractors’ bids, and simplifies the comparison of incoming bids.

    Subcontractors are automatically matched with relevant projects based on their profile, preferences, and pre-qualification information saving hours of research to both sides. They can review project details, documentation, and blueprints.

    planhub icon

    High-quality projects

    Your one-stop job for qualified hard-to-find private project leads in varying stages like pre-planning, bidding, etc., and across different geographies, zip codes, or distance to your office.

    Projects include plans, specifications, bid dates, and other relevant project information.

    You can segment project leads by type of project, status, project building use, trades and sub trades, or create your own list of keywords — and be notified when one of them is found in a posted project’s documentation or plans.

    We make it simple to find projects that match your business — and make sure you are notified right away.

    				
    					<script src='https://planhub.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.min.js' id='jquery-core-js'></script>
    <script charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript" src="//js.hsforms.net/forms/embed/v2.js"></script>
    <script>
      hbspt.forms.create({
        region: "na1",
        portalId: "7063061",
        formId: "ced7254f-5c61-49b9-9ce0-6f870b79a958"
      });
    </script>
    				
    			

    Get the report!

    From the very beginning, PlanHub has been a place where people can do meaningful work and build strong relationships.

    Come grow with us! We’re building innovative technologies that simplify preconstruction for everyone.

    Expand your network and connect with general contractors, subcontractors, owners, architects, and suppliers – not to mention thousands of relevant projects at your fingertips.

    Generate relevant leads, faster and with precision. With access to private, hard-to-find projects, you can connect with architects and owners on projects still in the pre-design and design stages.

    PlanHub’s advanced suite of bid management tools allows you to increase productivity, identify relevant projects using data, build bids with Takeoff, and manage bids through the entire process.

    Create quicker, improved takeoffs effortlessly. PlanHub’s Takeoff Core aids your team in accurate, faster estimates, minimizing errors, and driving business growth.

    Expand your network and connect with general contractors, subcontractors, owners, architects, and suppliers – not to mention thousands of relevant projects at your fingertips.

    Generate relevant leads, faster and with precision. With access to private, hard-to-find projects, you can connect with architects and owners on projects still in the pre-design and design stages.

    PlanHub’s advanced suite of bid management tools allows you to increase productivity, identify relevant projects using data, build bids with Takeoff, and manage bids through the entire process.