How to Write a Construction Estimate, Step by Step
How to write a construction estimate customers trust: scope, line items, labor, markup, allowances, exclusions and terms, with a worked example.
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Home projects, done right.
Plain-English guides to hiring contractors, comparing bids, budgeting and keeping a project on track, for homeowners and the pros who build for them.
What Is an Allowance in Construction? A Homeowner Guide
An allowance is a placeholder budget in a bid or contract for items you haven't picked yet, like tile or fixtures. Here's how they work and what to check.
Read the guideHow to Compare Contractor Bids: A Line-by-Line Checklist
Compare contractor bids on scope first and price last. Line up inclusions, allowances, timeline, payment schedule and warranty before you pick one.
Read the guideQuestions to Ask a Contractor Before Hiring: 20 to Use
20 questions to ask a contractor before hiring: license, insurance, permits, schedule, payments, change orders and warranty, plus the answers to look for.
Read the guideSee a whole project on one record.
Post a job, compare structured bids, sign and track the work. Explore it with sample data; nothing is saved.