About Construction Estimating

Anyone that needs a construction estimate or a material takeoff. This includes contractors that perform private or public work. Residential builders, commercial and civil contractors that are small or large, whether they need one estimate or multiple estimates benefit from our estimating service.  Contractors that do not have the volume of construction to support a full-time estimator hire us.  Contractors that have cut their estimating staff due to the drop in the construction market have hired us. Close

You can email us your digital blueprints whether they are PDF plans or CAD drawings. If you use an on-line plan room we can download the blueprints from there. Local contractors on the West Coast of Florida can call or email us and we will gladly pickup your blueprints for free! Close

It varies depending on the project size and type. To give you an idea, we typically turnaround a lumber estimate on a single or two-story residential home within 24-36 hours from receiving the plans! On a single or two-story residential home quantifying slab through lintel, again we typically turn it around within 24-36 hours! Turnaround times for commercial projects vary from project to project due to the size, complexity, and uniqueness. Close

We primarily prepare the quantity surveys and estimates in Microsoft Excel. We are also proficient with PlanSwift and Quest Residential Estimator. You can also email us one of your Excel spreadsheets that have your cost codes and material codes. We will input the quantities that we estimate into your spreadsheet. Then you can send out this material list to your vendors for pricing then you can import the spreadsheet into your estimating system for budgets. Close

We can give you the material list in CSI MasterFormat or UniFormat. We can also prepare it based on the how you phase your work (ex. “Footer Steel” would have all the materials required for this phase of construction, grouped together). Or if you want us to customize the estimate to your needs we will gladly do so! Close

The estimates and material takeoffs that we send you will come within 1-3% of the actual cost, although we do not guarantee this, we will gladly provide you a reference list. Close

Yes we do! One of our independent cost engineers will work at your office performing all the functions of a full-time estimator. Our staff of qualified estimators have experience with many of the most widely used estimating systems such as PlanSwift, Quest Estimator, Mark Systems, and many others. Contact us for our on-site consulting fees.Close

In a nut shell, we are experts in building cost estimating. Most importantly, we can save you money because you do not need a full-time estimator and you do not need to invest in expensive estimating software. Many contractors purchase expensive software based on the recommendation of their estimator. Suddenly, that estimator is no longer employed with the company and you are stuck with a piece of estimating software that you do not know how to use. And now with the slow down in construction industry and the current state of the economy, why have another employee on your payroll! Outsourcing your estimating work is probably the easiest and most cost effective job your company can outsource. All we need from you is a set of plans! Close

You will know the fee for our service upfront because we will provide you a FREE QUOTE! We charge +/-$150 for a lumber estimate on a single-family residence and +/-$200 for a two-story residence. We charge $.10/sqf - $.16/sqft under roof for a quantity survey for the entire shell on a single-family residence. Commercial projects are priced per job. Our hourly rate for all other construction estimating services is $40 - $100 per hour, please see our fee schedule for a complete breakdown. Close

To receive a FREE QUOTE send your construction drawings to lou@totaltakeoffs.com or you can call us at 813-478-5568 or click here to send you to the “Request an Estimate” form. Close

Freelance Construction Estimating for Florida Builders and Contractors
Need a Freelance Construction Estimator in Florida for a project bidding in one of these markets: Pensacola, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Ocala, Daytona, Orlando, Lakeland, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Bradenton, Sarasota, Ft. Myers, Naples, West Palm Beach, Pompano Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Hollywood, and Miami.

Freelance Construction Estimating Service in the US, Canada, and the Caribbean
Contractors with building projects anywhere in the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean can utilize our construction estimating services: Alabama, Alaska, Alberta, Arizona, Arkansas, Bahamas, British Columbia, Calgary, California, Canada, Cayman Islands, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Edmonton, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Montreal, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Toronto, Utah, Vancouver, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Winnipeg, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Close

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