a. The cost
estimator visits the site.
If a cost estimating project
involves many single family homes with several plan types within the
development, it is my belief that only one of each plan type needs
to be visited. This in turn translates to major cost savings for
the client.
Depending on the
nature of the project or case, there are times when the client may
request that each home or unit be visited.
b. It
is very important to stay current with labor rates and other
costs.
Performing a
task (example: nailing a 2x4 wood stud) is the same wherever the
cost estimating project is located. On the other hand, labor rates and costs differ
from state-to-state and sometimes they even may be different between
jurisdictions.
c.
After the
various experts prepare the reports with their recommendations of
repair, a quantity survey or takeoff is performed. A quantity
takeoff is the measurements taken from the construction drawings and
may entail the total "squares" of a roof or the total "square yards"
of exterior stucco or "lineal feet" of pipe.
d. Unit costs
for each repair are then prepared. These unit costs are comprised
of the total labor and material necessary to complete the task.
e.
When all the
unit costs within the specific repair disciplines have been
calculated, then the various burdens (i.e. general conditions,
overhead and profit, etc.) are added to come up with a final repair
estimate.
