Hey Reddit, I’ve got a bone to pick with bad construction estimates. You ever start a project—say, a deck or a reno—and halfway through realize you’re out of cash because your “quick math” was garbage? Happened to me once with a kitchen redo, and I swear I aged 10 years in a week. I’m convinced accurate estimating is the secret sauce to not losing your mind (or your savings).
So, here’s my question for you all: how do you make sure your material and cost estimates don’t suck? I’ve been digging into this lately and found some cool options. For home builds, stuff like residential estimating services seems clutch—they break down every nail and board so you’re not guessing. For bigger gigs, like if you’re in a city like NYC, commercial estimating services apparently handle the chaos of urban costs (codes, delivery fees, all that jazz).
What’s really got my attention, though, is outsourcing. I mean, why kill yourself over spreadsheets when you can use outsource estimating services and let someone else figure it out? Seems like a no-brainer for contractors or DIYers who don’t have time to play accountant.
Anyway, I’m curious—what’s your experience? Worth hiring pros for this, or are you a DIY estimating wizard? Ever had a project go sideways because of a shitty estimate? Spill the tea—I need to know I’m not alone in this struggle!
