Ordinary dictionaries define estimation as something vague and irrational – a “rough assessment????, an “approximation????, “calculation without measurement????, an “educated guess????, and so on. As a result, estimator jobs are often undervalued in the building services industry and perceived to be unscientific.

Such perception cannot be farther from the truth. Instead of offering imprecise guesswork, those in estimator jobs provide proficient and effective advices that enable construction teams to complete their projects in time and on budget. It is particularly important that accurate cost estimates are presented for bids on construction projects, as they make the bids more competitive. Once the projects are awarded, those professionals in their estimator jobs can help contractors save valuable money and time by correctly taking into account all construction and maintenance costs.

Common errors made by those new in their estimator jobs include miscalculation of the amount of labour required both initially and on an ongoing basis, failure in reviewing building regulations, permits and inspections, negligence on the quality of workmanship needed, and ignorance of “minor???? issues such as the use of scaffolding, ramps and guardrails. In order to avoid these errors, those professionals in their estimator jobs strictly abide by industry standards that ensure safe and energy-efficient plant operations.

Various proprietary estimating software systems also empower professionals to perform well in their estimator jobs. These systems automate the process of producing estimates by allowing estimators to work from bills of quantities (BoQs) and consult with a wide range of resources and rates databases.