Understand the project's objectives

As a construction cost estimator, one of the most important things you can do is understand the project's objectives. What is the client looking to achieve? What are their budget and schedule constraints? Knowing this information will help you put together a more accurate estimate.

1. Know your audience Before you can start estimating costs, you need to know who your audience is. Are you working with a private individual or organisation? What is their budget for the project? Knowing this information will help you tailor your estimate accordingly.
2. Understand the scope of work Another important factor to consider is the scope of work. What exactly needs to be done in order to complete the project? The more detailed your understanding, the more accurate your estimate will be.
3. Get input from others, finally, don't forget that there are other people who can help you with estimating construction costs. Talk to colleagues or other design team members for advice and guidance

Define the scope of the project

As a cost estimator, one of the most important skills you can have is understanding the scope of works. This means being able to identify all the elements that need to be included in the estimate, and understanding how they all fit together.

One way to improve your scope of work estimation skills is to attend project meetings. Here, you can hear first-hand from the project manager what needs to be done, and get a better understanding of the overall project. You can also ask questions about anything you're unsure of, and get clarification on any points.

Another way to improve your skills is to read the project documentation carefully. This includes things like drawings, specifications and schedules. By taking the time to understand what each element entails, you'll be able to build up a clear picture of what needs to be included in the estimate.

You can also talk to other tradespeople on site, and get their input on what's required for the job. They may have insights that you didn't consider, which can help improve your estimates.

Break the project down into smaller tasks

If you want to improve your project estimating skills, one of the best things you can do is break the project down into smaller tasks. This will help you to get a better understanding of the individual components of the project and what needs to be done to complete them. Additionally, it can also help to make the project more manageable and less overwhelming.

Some tips for breaking down a project into smaller tasks include:

1. Create a task list: This is a simple but effective way to break down a project into smaller parts. Simply make a list of all the tasks that need to be completed, and then start tackling them one by one.
2. Use a project management tool: If you want to get a little more organized with your project breakdown, you can use a project management tool like Trello or Asana. These tools allow you to create tasks, assign them to team members, and track progress.
3. Create a Gantt chart: A Gantt chart is a type of project management tool that can be used to visualize the tasks and timeline of a project. This can be helpful for seeing how all the pieces of the project fit together and for identifying any potential bottlenecks.

Estimate the time and resources needed for each task

When you're estimating the time and resources needed for a project, it's important to be as accurate as possible. Here are a few tips to help you improve your estimating skills:

1. Know your team's capabilities: Before you start estimating, it's important to have a good understanding of your team's skills and abilities. This will help you to gauge how long each task will take, and how many resources will be required.
2. Break down the project into smaller tasks: Once you have an understanding of your team's capabilities, you can start breaking the project down into smaller tasks. This will make it easier to estimate the time and resources needed for each individual task.
3. Take into account potential risks: As you're estimating the time and resources needed for each task, it's important to take into account potential risks. This will help you to avoid underestimating the time and resources required for the project.
4. Use historical data: If you have data from previous projects, this can be a valuable resource when estimating the time and resources needed for a new project. This data can help you to identify patterns and trends that can be used to improve your estimates.
5. Communicate with your team: Throughout the estimation process, it's important to communicate with your team. This will help to ensure that everyone is on the same page, and that the estimates are realistic.

Make sure your estimates are realistic

One way to ensure your estimates are realistic is to use historical data. This means looking at past projects and understanding how long they took to complete. This will give you a better understanding of what your team is capable of and how long similar projects have taken in the past. This is known as project benchmarking, and tools like bench it can help.

Sense checking everything is a must. simple checks can be used to check most errors e.g. do floor finishes and ceiling finishes largely match? Does the total of floor finishes match the overall GIFA? Does your project total fall in line with other similar projects you have completed recently?

Finally, it’s important to always leave room for error. No estimate is going to be 100% accurate, and there will always be unforeseen circumstances that can impact the timeline of a project. By leaving room for error, you can ensure that your project stays on track even if there are some bumps along the way.

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