Engaging your customer's interest is what an estimate can do. Project a quantity that you think works best for your company and your customer's benefits and download our best estimate templates now. Painting estimate, job estimate, contractor estimate, roofing estimate, estimate sheet template, estimate budget, business budget template, and annual business budget, everything is set and ready for you to use. 100% customizable and editable for your preferences, our premium templates also available in MS Word, Apple Pages, Google Docs, PDF, Google Sheets, Numbers, and Excel Formats. These templates will surely do a great job when you are unable to guarantee exact prices for your materials and labor. No need to start from scratch.
Estimate Templates
A Contractor has to Create a Detailed Estimate to Get Paid Faster! Here at Template.net, We Offer Free Printable Estimate Templates. Whether You’re Doing Construction Work or Doing a Painting Job, Handyman, Roofing, Plumbing, Or Fencing, There’s a Template for You. What are You Waiting for? Edit One Yourself.
How to Create an Estimate?
An estimate is an approximation, a prediction, or a projection of a quantity based on the information available at present or through previous experiences. Unlike quotations, an estimate is mostly an educated guess that is commonly used in describing how much a job may cost to account for possible unforeseen developments during the project.
Estimates are very useful when you are unable to guarantee exact prices for your materials and labor or when you are unsure about the size of the job. A study from semantic scholars Karjalainen, Bescherer, Hinkka, & Koskela (2007) states that the ambiguity in the target selling price and the instability of a customer's preference is a problem in monitoring the progress of achieving a target cost. But setting a fixed estimate pricing can solve this dilemma and can save the company from losing profit.
1. Identify and Review Your Customers Needs
Before providing your customers an estimate, identify who you are dealing with, and understand what they want you to do. Specify the amount of time needed to complete your project and check if you need additional assistance for the job to finish on time.
2. Identify Materials Needed
Now that you know your project plan, the next thing you do is to identify the materials you need and list them down. Determine the cost and availability, anticipate if they need to be purchased or rented. See to it that your materials are affordable and have a good quality that meets your customer's standards.
3. Write Your Estimate
In writing your estimate, place a good business letterhead. Include your business information and contact details like your company name and address, your telephone number, and job description. Insert your company logo as well as your license or accreditation to make you more trustworthy to your customers. Don't forget to write the contact information of your customers so that you can keep track of your transactions.
4. Label Your Estimates
Label your estimates clearly. It is preferable to place the word "ESTIMATE" directly under the letterhead in large, red capital letters to give it a formal business format and an appealing design. Provide agreement terms and conditions together with any necessary disclaimers to inform your customers that the actual price may differ from the estimate you gave. Include a few alternative estimate sheets for them to review in case they are unsatisfied with your proposed estimates.
5. Give a Breakdown of Your Estimate
Properly describe your services or products to be provided. Go into extensive details and give a step-by-step breakdown of your job to avoid conflicts and misunderstandings in the future. Separate the estimated amount for your materials and the amount of labor needed to finish the project and project reports. You may include additional charges or incentives for special cases.
6. Determine Your Total Cost
Determine your profit margin by getting the total cost of your materials and labor. Once you have carefully proofread your estimate, date it and add your signature. Deliver it to your customer and have it signed by them to complete your transaction. Don't forget to leave a copy for yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Purpose of an Estimate?
Coming from the construction fields, estimate serves as an approximate prediction of the required resources and materials. It also gives predictions on possible time and capital would be required at several stages of a project before completion. Estimating costs provides cost control reference.
What is Cost Estimating?
It is the estimation of the capital of any program, operation, or project of business. This process has a single total value for its effective help in project management and cost control. The person who makes such calculations is known as a cost estimator.
What are the Three Basic of Cost Estimating?
- Order of Magnitude Estimate: It is the cost prediction required at the planning and evaluation stage of a project.
- Budget Estimate: It generates a better-detailed list of expenditures required in a project.
- Definitive Estimate: It describes every activity and deliverables of a project in detail in a justifying way.
Why is Cost Estimation Important?
- It helps to the right capital commitment to any business operation or project.
- It is a researched and evaluated process that gives good judgment.
- Managers and analysts practice and prepare such documents with high accuracy.
- It keeps work and operations on time.
How to Estimate Roofing Project?
- Calculate the total square footage by measuring the length and width of every portion of the roof. Then, multiply the length by the width for every plan and add all the planes together.
- Calculate the total number of squares.
- Get the bundles of shingles needed for the roof covering.
