Estimating Fundamentals: From Takeoff to Totals
This revised half day course will focus specifically on Estimating. The ability to effectively prepare for a project is vital to your success. Project preparation consists of multiple processes that work together and, when performed effectively, increase your efficiency and profitability, improve client satisfaction and enhance team and vendor relationships. Come away with the knowledge and skills to perform one of the critical processes in project preparation: estimating costs.
You will explore how scope definition, quantity takeoffs and cost development work together to create a dependable estimate. The course walks through how to interpret plans, specifications, inclusions and exclusions, so you can clearly define project scope, avoid gaps and improve coordination with trade partners.
Through a structured estimating process, you will learn how to select the right estimating methods based on project phase and available information. You will practice performing accurate quantity takeoffs and organizing costs into clear, detailed breakdown structures that capture direct costs, indirect costs and general conditions.
By the end of the course, you will know how to assemble, validate and communicate a complete estimate that stands up to real-world scrutiny. You will walk away with practical tools and a repeatable process to improve accuracy, reduce risk and support better decision-making across bidding and project execution.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Define and interpret project scope using plans, specifications, inclusions and exclusions
- Select and apply estimating methods, including rough, assembly and detailed estimating
- Execute a structured estimating process from takeoff through final pricing
- Perform accurate quantity takeoffs and avoid common errors
- Build organized cost breakdown structures, including direct and indirect costs
- Incorporate trade partner and vendor pricing into your estimate
- Assemble, validate and clearly communicate a complete, reliable estimate
An estimate is not only a number. It is the financial blueprint of your project. When done right, it brings clarity to scope, confidence to bidding and control to project outcomes. A strong estimating process helps reduce costly surprises, improves trade coordination and sets every project up for success from day one.
This course is ideal for professionals across the residential construction industry who want to improve cost accuracy and estimating confidence.
You should take this course if you are a:
- Home builder looking to create more accurate project budgets
- Remodeler managing detailed scopes and variable costs
- Project manager responsible for budgeting and cost control
- Estimator seeking a structured, repeatable estimating process
- Superintendent who wants better insight into project costs and scope
- Trade contractor interested in understanding how estimates are built
- Newer construction professional building foundational estimating skills
- Experienced professional looking to refine estimating accuracy and efficiency
Whether you are pricing new residential construction or complex remodels, this course will help you move from takeoff to totals with confidence and precision
This course counts as 3 credit hours toward the continuing education requirement for the NAHB Certified Master Building Professional (CMBP) and Certified Master Remodeler Professional (CMRP) credentials.
Participants will also earn 3 hours of continuing education credits for the following NAHB designations: CAPS, CGA, CGB, CGP, CGR, CMP, CSP, GMB, GMR, Master CSP and MIRM.
Additionally, this course qualifies for 3 AIA/CES Learning Units (LU). NAHB is a Registered Provider with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems (AIA/CES). Credits will be reported to CES Records for AIA members upon course completion. Certificates of Completion are available for non-AIA members upon request.
