So, you’ve been researching the process of building a home, and you’ve come across the term ‘building estimator’, right? And in layman’s terms, you’ve got absolutely no idea what that means.
We get it: the building world seems to have its only lingo. And all that jargon can get pretty confusing. Well, today we’re going to explain what a building estimator is, and why they’re so important.
What is a Building Estimator?
The name is a pretty good hint: a building estimator is a professional who provides accurate and detailed cost estimates for construction projects. A building estimator works closely with architects, engineers, contractors, and customers to determine the cost of the project, including materials, labor, and other expenses.
A building estimator is responsible for (but not limited to) tasks such as:
- Compiling bids and quotes for work
- Calculating the costs of materials and transport
- Calculating the cost of labor
- Communicating with architects, engineers, design teams, and others involved in the project
- Clarifying client’s expectations and needs
- Keeping in touch with inflation and current pricing of products and services
- Reading blueprints and analyzing data
- Data entry
- Providing risk assessments for each project
The estimations provided by the building estimator help building teams and clients make informed decisions about their projects.
In short, a building estimator is required to be a logical and technical thinker, a mathematician, an advisor, and a negotiator! Oh, and they also need to have great time-management and communication skills!
Why do Builders use Estimators?
Building a new home is a complex process that involves many different components and steps. To be able to make informed decisions about the project, it’s important to have a clear understanding of everything involved in each step.
Builders use building estimators for several reasons:
Accuracy
One of the primary reasons that builders use building estimators is to ensure the accuracy of their cost estimates. This involves a thorough understanding of the building process, an up-to-date knowledge of the pricing of products and services, and the ability to communicate clearly with suppliers and contractors.
Time and Cost Savings
Building estimators can help builders to save time and money by identifying potential cost-saving areas. They also identify areas where additional costs may be incurred, allowing builders to make informed decisions about the project ahead of time. Identifying any areas where money and time can be saved is key to ensuring that the project runs smoothly, on time, and on budget.
Improved Project Management
Building estimators can help to improve project management by providing detailed cost estimates and timelines for each phase of the project. This helps to ensure that the project is completed in a timely manner and that all components of the project are properly coordinated.
Improved Communication
Building estimators are important when it comes to maintaining clear and open communication between builders, contractors, and homeowners. By providing detailed cost estimates and timelines, building estimators can ensure that everyone involved in the project has a clear understanding of the scope of work involved, the costs involved, and the timeline for completion.
Better Decision-making
Information is everything when it comes to making important decisions about any construction project. And by providing detailed cost and time estimates for each component and phase of a project, an estimator is able to assist builders and clients to make fully informed decisions that are in line with the overall project budget and goals.
How Can I get a ‘Quick’ Calculation of the Cost of My Project?
If you’re in the very early stages of your project, you may be wanting a ‘rough’ estimate or ballpark figure for your project.
Combit Constructions offers an online Building Cost Calculator tool that does just that: by entering the basic details of your project and the works involved in the project, we can give you bulk park figures of what your project will cost.
Our Building Cost Calculator tool has been developed by Igor Korenev himself and is regularly updated with current pricing.
Get your project bulk park figures instantly: https://combit-construction.com/calculator/
