info@totaltakeoffs.com

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About Construction Estimating

Need a construction estimator to estimate the cost of building a new home or a new commercial building? Email your plans to lou@totaltakeoffs.com to receive a QUOTE!

Our staff of certified estimators will provide you with a reliable building cost estimate. We are extremely accurate and efficient helping building professionals determine the cost of building any size building. The estimates and takeoffs are detailed, accurate, and inexpensive. We can email or fax them to you in any format you require. Our clients are building owners, architects, developers, engineers, building professionals, and suppliers of all sizes.

Total Takeoffs has successfully estimated hundreds of construction projects around the country and overseas. We have a reputation for accuracy and quick completion times.

Our freelance estimators are field experienced with a diverse background in residential, commercial, and civil construction estimating.

We are proficient using various computer construction estimating systems.

Total Takeoffs is a member of the American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE) and has the ability to certify our estimates. Most banks only recognize estimates from CPE's.

To read more detailed information about our company click on one of the topics below.

Here are some questions in regards to the estimating services we provide and how we operate.

Q: Who uses our estimating services?

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.

Q: How do we send Total Takeoffs the plans?

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!

Q: How quick can you expect a takeoff or estimate?
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.

Q: What type of document are the estimates and quantity surveys prepared in?

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.

Q: What format are the construction estimates prepared in?

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!

Q: Do you offer on-site contractor consulting services?

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!

Q: Why should my company outsource it's estimating work with Total Takeoffs?

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!

Q: What is our fee schedule?

You will know the fee for our service upfront because we will provide you a QUOTE!

Q: How do I request a takeoff or estimate?

To receive a QUOTE send your construction drawings to lou@totaltakeoffs.com or you can call us at (833) 686-2727 or click here to send you to the "Request an Estimate" form.

Q: What areas of the country do we service?

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.

Company Profile

Our team of professional estimators is managed by a senior cost estimator who has earned his Bachelor's Degree in Construction Technology and an MBA.

We staff a residential, commercial, and civil estimator. The residential estimator only works on residential projects and our commercial estimator works on the commercial projects. This approach of matching an estimator with his discipline to your project ensures that you will receive the most accurate cost estimate or quantity survey.

Our estimators have field experience as well, so we are not just "bean counters". This field experience includes masonry, framing, roofing, and trim carpentry. We provide accurate and detailed material takeoffs.

Our estimators have worked on various construction projects ranging in size and complexity. The estimates have been for small residential homes to complex commercial structures.

Our network of estimators are proficient with many estimating programs. We have an estimator that is proficient with Planswift and another estimator that uses IHMS Mark Systems. To view the list of the other estimating systems we use please click on the Software Consulting page link in the left navigation bar. We are also experts using Microsoft Excel. We have built some takeoff and estimating templates that you can purchase which will dramatically speed up doing your material takeoffs and automate your estimating process. We can even customize one for you.

The credentials and experience we have exceeds what other freelance estimators have. With the current state of the construction industry having a cost consultant and cost engineer that is experienced, accurate, and efficient has never been more important. We will help you win more bids and help increase your profits.

Membership

Estimating Affiliations
We are members of the American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE) and follow their guidelines and code of ethics set forth. The monthly meetings we attend help keep us informed with the latest construction news and estimating information. We have guest speakers that include various industry professionals as well as officials from the local building departments. The meetings also provide an opportunity to network with other estimators.

Most estimators after they receive their college degree and get a job in estimating never attend refresher courses. We strongly believe in continuing education so our estimating skills never atrophy over time so we attend estimating workshops and seminars. These workshops help inform us of the latest advances in estimating and construction techniques. We are always on the cutting edge with information, technology, and business practices.

Contractor Associations

We are members of NAHB. This helps promote fellowship and network with other contractors. As a member of NAHB, we are informed with what is going on within construction and the government. It is important that we are members of the estimating and contractor associations, not just from the aspect of business development but also they help represent our voice in Washington by protecting our business interests.

Membership Certification

Click the links below to view the membership certificates.

To order a Takeoff or Estimate Report click here
or call us at (833) MTO-ASAP
(833) 686-2727
Request Takeoff or Estimate Report