What does a Construction Estimator do?

The duties and responsibilities of a Construction Estimator are to determine the total cost of a construction project. The first step of doing so involves validating the project’s Scope of Work, which lays out the entirety of work that needs to be done to complete the building project.

The role of an Estimator in construction is to prepare estimates for buildings, roads, and other construction projects. A Construction Estimator may calculate the total cost of constructing a bridge or commercial shopping center, or they may calculate the cost of just one part, such as the foundation.

Construction Estimator job duties include being responsible for performing all facets of a commercial works estimate including quantities, costing, and sub-trade analysis for presentation and final review of major items.

Construction Estimator Responsibilities

  • Maintain files of working documents as back-up for estimate figures, including current information on prices from suppliers through direct contact, sales brochures, and price lists.
  • Review subcontractor bids and validation of work scopes.
  • Design takeoff, track bid due dates, request, and review quotes from vendors.
  • Designate day-to-day responsibilities for preconstruction personnel.
  • Identify deficiencies in the drawings and generate pricing to cover them.
  • Develop quantity-based estimates from partial information.
  • Support the estimating department in accumulating historical cost data.
  • Verify bid documents, plans, and specification review.
  • Responsible for the timely completion and delivery of all client-required documents.

Construction Estimator Qualifications

  • Construction Management, Engineering, or Business degree preferred.
  • Estimating experience with a General Contractor, working on commercial/buildings and/or civil estimating projects.
  • Ability to operate MS Office Suite, with strong spreadsheet skills.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, as well as attention to detail.
  • General knowledge of construction documents.
  • Self-starter, comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision.

Are you looking to fill the role of an Estimator in Construction for your company or building project? As construction recruiters, we can help you refine your Construction Estimator job description and assist you in finding the right candidate for your needs.

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