Introduction to Estimating

Course goal

Our goal in this course is to teach you the best estimating practices we know. With a new (or renewed) foundation of these skills we hope you end the course with more confidence in your work, access to new tools, and a network of other emerging estimators in the industry.

Session 1

What's Possible When You Estimate with Cost Codes

Agenda

  • Introductions

  • Why job cost accounting

  • Cost Interventions -Types of Estimates & Timeline

  • The HELM Estimating Template/Sheets - overview, what it can do

  • Orientation to Google Sheets

  • Homework

Related documents

  • Session 1 Slides

  • Session 1 Recording

  • HELM Estimating Sheets Template (get the most recent version from your Consultant)

  • Job Cost Accounting Setup in QuickBooks Online (pdf)

  • Job Cost Accounting in QuickBooks Online Webinar

    • Two clarifications

      • when Kate is recording a job related expense, she should be selecting a class (material, sub/trade partner, labor, etc) for the expense as well. This will allow her to create reports by class in order to see the split between those categories.

      • you don't need separate income accounts for each CSI code, just COGS accounts. We use Classes to distinguish between materials, labor, subcontractors etc. The Service Items (Products/Services) should match the CSI codes and then the second step is to create COGS accounts that mirror those as well. It's a pain. We do have an Excel sheet that can be used to bulk upload - instead of adding them one by one.

Session 2

The DD & CD Estimates

Agenda

  • The DD/CD Estimating Method (regardless of the tool you're using)

  • Introduce Demonstration Project

  • Where to begin with the HELM Estimating Sheets:

    • Estimating Tasks Overview Tab

    • RFPs and RFIs

    • Inputs

    • Where to put information

  • Take-off Sheets

Related documents

Session 3

The Preliminary & SD Estimates

Agenda

  • The Preliminary/SD Estimating Methods

    • Bucket Estimate

    • SQ based on accurate data

  • Evolution of the Estimate, Comparing Prelim & SD to DD & CD

  • Presenting SD Ranges to your client

Related Documents

Session 4

Markups and Contract Deliverables

Agenda

  • Contract documents: Notes to the Estimate & Schedule of Values

  • GPM, Markups Calculator

  • Vocab Bingo

  • Survey

Related Documents