In construction, it’s important to understand the difference between an estimate, budget, proposal, and bill of quantities. An estimate is a calculation of the project’s cost, usually prepared early to get a general idea. A budget, within Contractor Foreman, represents the maximum amount we plan to spend in order to achieve the desired profit. A proposal is a formal offer from a contractor that includes the scope, pricing, and terms of the work. A bill of quantities is a detailed breakdown of materials and labor, listing exact quantities to support accurate pricing and comparison between bids.

In Contractor Foreman, the Estimate tool can serve multiple purposes: it can be presented as a Proposal to the customer, used as a Bill of Quantities to quantify the required parts and labor, and tied directly to the Budget to ensure the project remains financially viable.

Estimate

Adding Estimates in Contractor Foreman is fast and easy and can be done from the field and emailed to the customer straight from the App. Estimates can be simple lump sum type estimates or detailed and job costed. You can include Markups and taxes for line items as well as detailed description for line items. You can even create Estimates using templates within the system, allowing your field personnel to create the Estimates as they go.

To add a new Estimate, go to main menu and click on Estimates then click on + Estimate.

You will be taken to a new screen that looks like the screenshot below. Please notice how we start with the tab “Details“.

Details Tab of the Estimate

In new Estimate Screen Select the Project (if it already exists), then complete the following fields:

Required Fields are marked with an Asterisk (*.)

Project

If a project has already been created for this estimate, select it from the dropdown menu.
If no project exists yet, you can leave this blank — once the estimate is approved, it can later be used to create a new project automatically.

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Title (*)

Enter the title of the estimate.
If a project has not yet been created, this title will become the Project Name once the estimate is approved and converted to a project.

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Customer (*)

Select the name of the customer from the dropdown.
If the customer already exists in your Directory Module, their information will populate automatically.
If not, you can add a new customer directly from this screen.

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Invoice Type (*)

Choose the invoice type for this estimate.
Options may include Percentage (%), Fixed, or other available billing structures, depending on how you plan to bill the client.

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Estimate #

This field will automatically populate once the estimate is saved.
The system assigns a sequential number based on the project name — for example:
Smith Residence, Estimate #1; Smith Residence, Estimate #2.

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Estimator

 

This field shows who is preparing the estimate.
You can assign an Estimator (or Project Manager) from your team who will handle this document and the related project if approved.

Items Tab of the Estimate

Click on the Items button on the left side of the screen.

 

Adding Sections to an Estimate.

To add sections to our Estimate, click any section on the left side of the screen.

 

Adding Items to an Estimate.

To add an item, select the Add Items / Modify Section under the items section.

Choose an option to add items.

Now that we now how to add items and sections to the Estimate manually, let’s go over other ways to build our Estimate.

 

1. Manual Entry: We know how to do that, we explained it on the section above.
2. Import from the Cost Items Data Base: The Cost Items Data Base (CIDB), is a module that lists the unit prices of all the Material Items, Labor Items, Equipment Items, Subcontractor Items and Other Items that we typically work with. We build this data base from the scratch or as we go with real prices. Click here to read more about the Cost Items Data Base.
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3. Import From 1build Material Costs Database: 1build tracks 68 million live construction materials, labor, and equipment costs for every county in the United States, and you have access to all that information by using this option. Just search for the item, select it and add it to your Estimate. This is just available for Plus, Pro and Unlimited packages. See our plans here.
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4. Import from a CSV File: With this option you can use the Estimate Import Template to create your estimate in Excel and then imported into Contractor Foreman. Please do not revise the order of the columns, this means, do not add or remove columns, do not move or change the order of them for the import to be successfully done.
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5. Import from an Estimate or Template: Importing sections and items from an Estimate or Template is truly easy with Contractor Foreman, just click on the “Add item to Estimate”, then click on “Import From Estimate or Template” and a new window will pop up. Click on the dropdown menu, select the Template or Estimate you want to use and then select the sections you want to import to your new Estimate. You can also bring the Scope of Work, Terms and Conditions, Exclusions and Inclusions, and even the Cover Sheet.
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*Remember that you can save Estimates as Templates by clicking on the checkbox that is at the bottom of the Estimate, and it can be done only during the Edit Mode.

Terms Tab of the Estimate

 

Default: These are the default conditions you can set up for all your Estimates under the Estimate Settings.

Inclusions: Inclusions in a construction project refer to the specific items, features, and services that are explicitly included in the scope of work and are expected to be delivered as part of the overall project. Ie. For a residential construction project, inclusions may encompass items such as foundation work, framing, roofing, plumbing, electrical wiring, flooring, doors, windows, and landscaping. These are the essential components and features explicitly detailed in the project plan and contract.

Exclusions: Exclusions in a construction project are elements, services, or items explicitly stated to be outside the scope of the project. These are aspects that are not included in the contracted work and are the responsibility of other parties or not part of the defined project scope.In a residential construction project, exclusions may include items such as furniture, appliances, interior decorations, and additional landscaping features beyond the basic scope. These are elements not covered by the construction contract and are expected to be provided or managed separately by the homeowner or another designated party.

 

Scope of Work Tab of the Estimate

Summary: The project summary offers a brief overview, encompassing key components such as the scope of work, inclusions, and exclusions. It serves as a concise guide, outlining the project’s objectives, deliverables, and the parameters for construction activities.

Scope of Work: The scope of work in a construction project outlines the specific tasks, activities, and deliverables that need to be accomplished to complete the project successfully. It defines the boundaries and expectations of the project, detailing what is included and excluded. For a commercial building construction project, the scope of work may involve tasks such as site preparation, foundation construction, structural framing, exterior and interior finishing, installation of utilities (plumbing, electrical, HVAC), and landscaping. It explicitly delineates the work to be done, providing a comprehensive guide for the project team.

 

Bidding Tab of the Estimate

The bidding process in Contractor Foreman is a tool that allows you to request bids from different Vendors and Subcontractors and manage their submission within the Estimate.

To learn more about this process watch this video.

Files Tab of the Estimate

On this tab, you will be able to upload all the documentation pertaining to this Estimate such as: Blueprints or Construction Drawings, Specifications, Bill of Quantities (BOQ) or Quantity Takeoff, Contract Documents, Quotes and Pricing from Suppliers and Subcontractors, Schedules and Timelines, Change Order Procedures, Insurance and Bonding, etc.

You can upload unlimited data to Contractor Foreman, the only limitation is that your individual files should be up to 150 MB. To clarify this, you can upload unlimited files of up to 150 MB.

If you include any document that you would like to share with your Customer/Lead and include it in the Estimate, make sure to go into the Edit Mode and for each individual document you would like to include in the Estimate, make sure to click on the “share with Client” button (it is a person icon that gets filled when sharing with the client), see screenshot below.

 

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