Estimating Construction Profitably
$10.95 – $36.95
Estimating the cost of a project is critical to your business success. If done correctly, your company will be profitable. If done wrong, you’ll lose money. Michael Stone, a successful construction business consultant and trainer, shares his years of hands-on experience estimating residential construction projects in his manual, Estimating Construction Profitably. You can read Chapter 1 here or preview the audiobook here.
The book is available at a 40% discount if purchased along with the Markup & Profit Intensive class; the discount will be applied in the cart.
When your estimated costs are reasonably accurate and you’re using the correct markup for your business, you can be confident you’re charging the right price for your work. The right price gives you enough money to cover all job costs, overhead expenses, and make at least 8% net profit.
If you’re responsible for estimating remodeling or renovation projects, new homes, specialty work, or light commercial projects, this book is for you. You might be an estimator working for someone else, or you might be the business owner who also does the sales and estimating for your business.
The book is divided into multiple short chapters for easy reference. It discusses:
- different methods of estimating
- details to tie down before you begin the estimate
- estimating labor
- labor rates, how to calculate, and which one to use
- working with other contractors
- accounting for errors
- adjusting for difficulty
- material and installed allowances
- and much more
Estimating isn’t difficult when you have a system in place. The purpose of this book is to help you create that system. It’s an approach to estimating that helps you estimate without having to think about the process. An orderly approach makes estimating easier and more accurate.
Estimating takes work. It requires dedication, focus, and practice to get it right. But it isn’t as difficult when you have a system in place. The size of the project might vary but the process doesn’t change, and this book is about learning the process.
This book doesn’t guarantee a profit on the jobs you estimate, and it doesn’t guarantee perfect estimates. It’s up to you to do the work. There’s a lot of information included; take what works for you.
Audiobook Listeners:Listen to a sample clip here.
The printed book is softcover, autographed, 8-1/2″ x 11″, 90 pages.
All eBooks and Audiobooks are available immediately and are delivered by BookFunnel. Visit this page for information and support. You can read or listen on your desktop or in any mobile device with the free BookFunnel app. You can also read on most eReaders, however these devices cannot access the cloud reader or install the BookFunnel App:
- E-Ink devices, including Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Touch, Kindle Voyage, Kindle Oasis, NOOK Glowlight, Kobo Aura, Kobo Clara, etc.
- Internet Explorer (use Chrome or Firefox)
- Kindle Fire 1st Gen (2011)
- NOOK Color (2010)
- NOOK Tablet (2011)
- NOOK HD (2012)
What’s the difference between this and the Profitable Estimating Training class?
If your estimates consistently have an error factor that is in the 5% to 10% range, then your system of estimating needs to change. The book Estimating Construction Profitably will show you how to develop a system or revamp your existing system to eliminate the errors now being made and make your work profitable.
Once you have a system in place that reduces your error factor, then it is time to do some practice estimates that will help you improve your accuracy and speed of takeoff. Our Profitable Estimating Training class will take you step by step through 6 estimates starting with a small bath remodel and working up to a whole house remodel. This class takes time and mental effort. You will invest between 40 and 50 hours of hard mental work to compile your 6 estimates. When done, however, you will be able estimate almost any job you will run into and do so with an error factor of 2% or less.
What about forms?
A sample estimate sheet and checklist are included, along with access to downloads allowing you to save both of these forms for easy use as an Excel spreadsheet or rtf format for use in any word processing software.
Who is the target audience?
If you’re responsible for estimating remodeling or renovation projects, new homes, specialty work, or light commercial projects, this book is for you. You might be an estimator working for someone else, or you might be the business owner who also does the sales and estimating for your business.
How will I get the eBook or Audiobook?
A download link for the eBook and audiobook will be sent via email after placing your order.
Shannon Blanchard (verified owner) –
Thank you, Michael. Your information and knowledge of this industry is so helpful to a new business owner. Keep up the great work and keep fighting for us to stay in business.
David Dunlap (verified owner) –
Thanks again, Michael! Your books have helped me so much (and a couple employees that now have gone out on their own). With a quick calculation following your advice (and not even remotely as much as I should), have probably increased my total revenue over the past 7 years by $500K. Received the latest book last week and read through half of it that night. I’ve been working on 4 bathroom remodel estimates this afternoon, and realized after 15 years, I’m still unfortunately WAG’ing and SWAG’ing on too many areas. Just as your book says, it always comes down to trying to be quick, or getting lazy, or being scared by the final number’s size. We’ve probably all gotten a bit comfortable from the work volume in the past few years, but now is the time to take all your books and advice seriously while we still have a little time before the economy tightens up. Thanks again!!
Jason Scheurer (verified owner) –
Michael has been a great resource for my company and it’s bottom line. His books taught me how to run my construction remodeling business successfully and with a profit. The Fast Track Proposal Writer software has been especially helpful on writing professional Agreements for my clients and spell out everything in detail. This new book “Estimating Construction Profitably” is reminding me to double check my numbers, use an Estimating software system such as Fast Track Estimating, and do not worry what the estimate comes in at. THE NUMBERS DON’T LIE! Thank you Michael and Devon for being there for us for over 20 years now. All of your books are GREAT!
Charles Thomes (verified owner) –
Michael Stone is a an insightful and wise teacher. His willingness to share his wealth of knowledge regarding profitabilty in construction is highly commendable. I read “Markup and Profit” in the early 2000’s and it changed the the way I looked at the business and administrative components of running a construction business. It increased my bottom line. I have found this volume to be just as enlightening. Thank You Michael.
Charles Thomes
Interior Construction Experts, LLC
Asheville, NC