RehabFAQs

why line item estimates dont work for a contractor working a rehab

by Myah Hermiston Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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What is a rehab estimate form used for?

Make sure to get itemized bids from each contractor. It is important that they are itemized so that they can be compared to each other. This will help you compare the bids to each other as well as to the itemized rehab cost estimate that you came up with in the rehab cost estimator. If a contractor refuses to give you one, do not use them as they will be impossible to compare. …

Should you provide a line-item price to your subcontractors?

without a Contractor. Quickly and easily create detailed rehab cost estimates & scopes of work for your rehab projects, without a Contractor! FREE TRIAL. Sign-up For a Free 30 Day Trial. No Credit Card Required! Starting at $25/mo After 30 Day Trial.

Can a client with no construction training compare itemized quotes?

Jan 11, 2019 · Getting more than one estimate for your repairs can help you negotiate a higher settlement, in some cases. If your adjuster offers you a lower settlement than contractors are estimating repairs will cost, don’t be afraid to call your adjuster and ask why or call a competent insurance litigation lawyer to get advice.

Can you ask contractors to give you estimates?

This rehab estimate form provides a simple rehab estimate tool that includes common repair items, cost ranges and unit prices for a typical rehab project. You can input your quantities to calculate costs, or print out the form and take it with you to make notes on-site.

What is the most accurate method of estimating repair costs on a rehab project?

Detailed Estimation MethodDetailed Estimation Method Detailed Estimates by Scope of Work or by Room involve a lot more time and due diligence, but it is generally the most accurate way to estimate repair costs.

What should be included in contractor estimate?

Every estimate should at the very least include the following elements:Job description. Explain the work you'll be doing. ... Materials and labor. Provide a high-level view of the necessary materials and labor and the costs for each. ... Total cost. ... This is a big one. ... Sales and company contact info.Oct 24, 2018

How do contractors price their work?

Average General Contractor Rates General contractors (GC) typically charge about 10% to 20% of your total construction project cost, also referred to as "cost plus." For larger projects, you might pay closer to 25% for their services. They typically do not charge an hourly rate.

What are the basic types of cost estimating?

5 Types of Cost EstimatesFactor estimating. ... Parametric estimating. ... Equipment factored estimating. ... Lang method. ... Hand method. ... Detailed estimating.Jan 22, 2022

Are estimates legally binding?

An estimate is a non-legally binding document. It is an approximation of costs for a project, drawn up by a business to send to a client. It is not a promise. The small business providing the estimate can withdraw their offer or the client can reject it.Mar 28, 2019

Does contractor estimate include materials?

Contractors use estimates to calculate their expected costs to complete a project. They look at the specifications for a project and determine the raw materials and labor they need. The contractor then goes to their suppliers to get quotes for the raw materials, which they use to calculate the estimate.Mar 28, 2016

What should you not say to a contractor?

Seven Things to Never Say to a ContractorNever Tell a Contractor They are the Only One Bidding on the Job. ... Don't Tell a Contractor Your Budget. ... Never Ask a Contractor for a Discount if You Pay Upfront. ... Don't Tell a Contractor That You Aren't in A Hurry. ... Do Not Let a Contractor Choose the Materials.More items...•Oct 10, 2017

What is a typical markup for contractors?

Markups vary from one contractor to the next and possibly from one project to the next. But as a general guide, the typical markup on materials will be between 7.5 and 10%. However, some contractors will mark up materials as much as 20 percent, according to the Corporate Finance Institute.Oct 5, 2021

Why do contractors charge so much?

What Factors Influence General Contractor Hourly Rates? Most general contractors charge per project based on the cost of materials, any subcontractors they need to hire, and the size and scope of the construction project.Mar 21, 2022

What are the 3 main methods of cost estimating?

Methods of Cost Estimation in Projects. 1) Expert Judgement Method. 2) Analogous Estimating Method. 3) Parametric Estimating Method.Jan 16, 2019

What is the common method of product estimation?

Top-down estimation is the most common method of estimating projects.Apr 16, 2020

What are the three types of estimates?

The three types of cost estimates are design, bid, and control estimates. Design estimates are prepared in the project preliminaries which gives the order of magnitude of the project cost.Jul 14, 2021

Walk the property and itemize what you want repaired

Get a straightforward list of repairs with the steps in the Property Condition Review Checklist. If you get the property inspected, add any additional items it brings up to this preliminary scope of work.

Find 3 or 4 contractors to bid the work

Get a rehab repair bid from at least three contractors available to work on your flip. These contractors should specialize in fix and flips. Flip friendly contractors will understand the urgency of your strict timeline, and either have ways in place or suggest ways to lower your expenses.

Walk the property with each contractor going over itemized list

All of the contractors you will be soliciting rehab proposals from need to understand the extent of the rehab and any damage. Walk the property with each and go over the construction items and major systems that you used using the rehab cost estimate checklist.

Get itemized bids

Make sure to get itemized bids from each contractor. It is important that they are itemized so that they can be compared to each other. This will help you compare the bids to each other as well as to the itemized rehab cost estimate that you came up with in the rehab cost estimator.

Compare bids to each other

Compare the largest jobs against each other once you get the proposals back. This will give you an overall idea of how each contractor determined the timelines and skill levels necessary.

Select contractor

Select the contractor that best suits your timeframe and budget after you have looked at all aspects of each bid.

How Our Rehab Estimator Works

6 easy steps for creating detailed rehab cost estimates and scopes of work for your rehab projects using our pre-built & customizable rehab cost databases.

Learn to Estimate Rehab Costs

Learn How to Estimate Rehab Costs for 25 Projects and Repairs for your House Flips.

Watch our rehab estimator in action!

watch our video case studies to learn how our rehab estimator tool can be used to create Detailed rehab estimates for your rehab projects.

Estimate Starter Templates

Use our pre-built Estimate Starter Templates to help you quickly get started estimating repair costs for your rehab projects!

Save Your Own Templates

Customize your own Estimator Databases with your own Categories, Repair Items and Unit Prices and Save it as a Template to be used on future projects!

Estimate Rehab Costs by Room

Estimate Rehab Costs Organized by Rooms such as Kitchens, Bathrooms, Living Rooms and Bedrooms.

Inspect Your Properties

Quickly and Easily document the condition of each repair as you are walking through the property

How does a contractor lose money?

A contractor can lose money by providing a price for each line-item proposal because the proposal looks like a shopping list. This leads the customer to question the big ticket items and wastes the time of the contractor. The customers think that if they eliminate some of the items from the scope, like putting items back on the shelf before checkout, they can save money on the project.

What to expect when the production work starts and how it will progress?

Remember: Your customers have no idea how fast, slow, expensive, noisy, muddy, exciting, exhausting, and thrilling a construction project will be. Don’t overwhelm them, but set the proper expectations.

Why does trust never develop?

Trust never has a chance to develop because no one is nurturing the trust. Contractors who establish trust with their clients by delivering a process that produces consistent results will not have to use the mirage of transparency in order to please a customer. Transparency is not trust.

What is lump sum pricing?

Lump-sum pricing leaves little to get lost in translation. Lump-sum pricing allows the contractor and the owner to focus on the right things—the overall scope of the work and the price for that specific scope of work.

Is transparency a trust?

Transparency is not trust. Line-item pricing may seem like transparency, but in reality it is a one-way mirror through which your customers are interrogating you. …. Thanks for taking the time to read this article. I really appreciate you and value your time.

Does line item pricing establish trust?

LINE-ITEM PRICING DOES NOT ESTABLISH TRUST. Line-item pricing does not establish trust with your customers. Your customers may appreciate the so-called transparency of line-item pricing, but transparency is not trust. Transparency should be a two-way street.

Is an itemized quote an unreasonable request?

We are working with a vendor whom we found recommended via Angles List.

Comments (23)

I asked contractors when I was researching to provide itemized quotes to make it easier to compare.

What is line item estimate?

A line item estimate is typically more in-depth. Some homeowners may like this because they see every detail and cost associated with the project. Some homeowners may not like this as much because they have trouble understanding the estimate and it can look like additional and unnecessary work was put in the estimate.

What to ask a contractor about remodeling?

Especially with young children and elderly adults, the airborne pollutants could cause respiratory problems. Ask your contractor what type containment and air quality measurements will be taken to ensure a clean work environment .

What should a remodeling contract include?

Here are 10 items every remodeling contract should include. Job description/scope of work. Start and completion dates. Payment terms. Proper authorization – acquiring regulatory permits. Change order procedures/limits.

Why is it important to compare estimates?

Just because one price is lower than another doesn’t mean both estimates have the same scope of work. That’s where the importance for scope of work (project outline) comes into play.

Line-Item Pricing Questions

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You have decided to jump into flipping because that’s how you build up your war chest to start using the BiggerPockets BRRRR strategy. You have no construction estimation experience, but you have just found your first distressed property on the MLS, through a property wholesaler, or just driving for dollars, and are dying to ge
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Line-Item Pricing Is Open to Interpretation

Lump-Sum Pricing Creates Focus

Line-Item Pricing Costs Contractors

Line-Item Pricing Confuses The Customer

  • Line-item pricing, much like cost-plus contracts, is open for interpretation. (See this post for my take on cost-plus contracts.)The contractor runs the risk of having to translate each of the line items for the customer.
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Line-Item Pricing Exposes Proprietary Information

  • Lump-sum pricing leaves little to get lost in translation. Lump-sum pricing allows the contractor and the owner to focus on the right things—the overall scope of the work and the price for that specific scope of work. The total price of a construction project is rarely one or two big line items but a combination of many smaller items that add up. Contractors that focus on developing a lu…
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Develop A Process For Lump-Sum Pricing

  • A contractor can lose money by providing a price for each line-item proposal because the proposal looks like a shopping list. This leads the customer to question the big ticket items and wastes the time of the contractor. The customers think that if they eliminate some of the items from the scope, like putting items back on the shelf before checkou...
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Responses to A Customer’S Request For Line-Item Pricing

  • In addition to those examples, providing a line-item price to your customer for your “go-to” plumber, mason, framer, etc., may inspire your customer to try to find someone cheaper. For most contractors, their subcontractors are part of their team. They have spent years developing the relationship, level of service, and quality that they expect. Using another subcontractor is a deal …
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Lump-Sum Pricing Process

  • If you explain that the price of that line item includes overhead expenses and profits for your company, then the customers may want to know what your overhead expenses and profits are. You risk exposing proprietary information if you share your overhead and profit numbers with the owners, and you risk eroding trust with them if you don’t. They want to know the real numbers, a…
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Line-Item Pricing Does Not Establish Trust

  • Providing lump-sum pricing to customers does not mean that you don’t share any specific pricing for items in the scope of work. In fact, you should discuss the components that make up the budget. But developing the budget is not the same as quoting the work. Lump-sum pricing works best when you have all the information for the project and have developed a detailed scope of w…
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