6 Essentials of Spot-On Estimates
There’s a lot more to a spot-on, accurate estimate than simply “paint room”. Every detail you overlook on the estimate costs you time (productivity) and eats into your profit. These 6 Essentials of Spot-On Estimates will get you thinking about what you need to consider in your estimating process.
In estimating terms, the comment “Paint room” is missing essential details. What kind of surface is it – smooth, textured, wallpapered? How many coats of paint are you doing? Does that include primer? How much prep is there? Does the surface need repairs? Is there trim? Are you brushing, rolling, or spraying?
1. Know what it takes to do a job.
Get familiar with the process of doing a specific job right. Whether you’re replacing trim or repainting a room, there are steps you need to take to do the job right.
Each step requires labor and materials, which contribute to the cost of the job.
PRO EXERCISE:
Examine a common job you do, step-by-step. List the tools, materials, and time required.
2. Measure.
Estimating is like making an educated guess. An estimate that isn’t built on basic measurements is just a guess. The length, width, and height is all you need for an interior or an exterior estimate.
PRO EXERCISE:
Record the width and height of each face of an exterior for greater accuracy!
3. Record details.
Plaster walls, lead paint, mold, narrow stairwell, poor ventilation, dark purple walls…all these details ADD UP! Record details about the space, repair work, surface types, customer requests, special circumstances, and deadlines to build spot-on estimates.
PRO EXERCISE:
A highly detailed estimate shows your client exactly wheat to expect when they work with you (and details justify the cost you are charging).
4. Know your own ability.
Whether you’re a one-man show or you have a crew of painters to work on a job, it’s important to know how long it takes for your team to complete specific tasks.
Time yourself and your crew!
PRO EXERCISE:
Compare your work to industry standards. If it takes your crew way longer than the standard, consider investing some time into training. And if you come in way under the standard, evaluate your work to make sure it’s up to par.
5. Quote the right tools and processes.
Don’t estimate the cost to paint with a sprayer if the job really needs to be painted with a brush. Likewise, if a surface needs to be stripped before repainting it, don’t just quote the repaint. That kind of detail will throw off your actual labor costs, the amount of paint required, and may mean that your crew shows up with the wrong tools (costing even more time).
PRO EXERCISE:
On the estimate, include the labor and materials required to handle the process correctly.
6. Practice.
All this seems overwhelming if you’re not used to estimating this way. But just as with anything else: It gets easier with practice – and faster.
PRO EXERCISE:
Write out your process. Make a form you can take with you in the field and record all the details you need. Or if you want, try one of PEP’s takeoff forms.
Bottom Line:
Develop a process that works for you.
Spend a few extra minutes on the estimate and feel confident that your customer gets an accurate, spot-on quote that covers all your costs and profit.