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Best · Construction Estimating Services Company · For Accurate Bid

Construction Estimating Services That Help Contractors Win More Bids

Professional Estimating Services prepares accurate construction cost estimates, quantity takeoffs and material takeoffs from your plans. Every estimate is priced with local labor and material rates, organized by CSI division and delivered bid-ready — standard takeoffs in as little as 24–48 hours.

Call 1 (267) 991 0966Send PDF, DWG, RVT, IFC or a plan-room link

Digital quantity takeoff of a medical office floor plan with color-coded flooring, drywall and door quantities

Estimates built in the takeoff and cost software contractors already trust

PlanSwift Bluebeam Revu On-Screen Takeoff STACK Trimble Accubid & FastPIPE RSMeans Data ProEst Excel Estimating Templates All estimating software

Quick answer

What Are Construction Estimating Services?

Construction estimating services are outsourced preconstruction services in which professional estimators measure every quantity on a project’s drawings (the takeoff) and price it with current material, labor, equipment and subcontractor costs. The result is a detailed cost estimate a contractor can use to bid, budget, buy materials or price change orders.

General contractors use estimating services to bid more projects without adding salaried estimators. Subcontractors use them for fast, single-trade takeoffs. Developers, architects and lenders use them to check whether a design fits the budget before money is committed.

Professional Estimating Services (PES) is a construction estimating company headquartered at 617 S 20th St in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Our estimators prepare construction cost estimates, quantity takeoffs and material takeoffs for residential, commercial and industrial projects in all 50 states, and every number can be traced back to a marked-up drawing. Learn more about our company or see how our estimating process works.

Our estimating services

Construction Estimating and Takeoff Services for Every Stage of Your Bid

From the first conceptual budget to the final bid-day number, our estimators handle the takeoff and pricing so your team can focus on winning and building the work. Choose a single service or combine them into one package.

Construction Cost Estimating

Line-item estimates with material, labor, equipment, overhead and profit — built for bids, budgets, GMPs and lender reviews.

Construction Takeoff

A complete takeoff of every trade on the drawings, organized by CSI division and ready for your pricing or ours.

Quantity Takeoff

Measured lengths, areas, volumes and counts by trade, with color-coded PDFs that show exactly what was counted.

Material Takeoff

Itemized material lists with sizes, waste factors and units that suppliers can quote and crews can order from.

MEP Estimating

Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection priced together — equipment, ductwork, piping, wire and labor hours.

Preliminary & Budget Estimating

Conceptual and schematic-stage budgets that show owners and lenders whether a project pencils out before design is final.

Estimates by project type

More specialized estimating & preconstruction services

CSI MasterFormat divisions estimated

States served from our Philadelphia office

Estimating & preconstruction services

Hour typical turnaround on standard takeoffs

0 hr

Why contractors choose PES

Why Contractors Trust Professional Estimating Services With Their Bids

An estimate is only useful if you can defend every line of it. That is why our process is built around local cost data, consistent formatting and a second set of eyes on every takeoff.

Our estimators come from field, project-management and estimating backgrounds across general contracting and the specialty trades, and they work in the same software your team uses. Read about our quality & accuracy standards or meet our estimating team.

Local pricing, not national averages

Labor rates, material prices and productivity are adjusted to your project’s ZIP code, union or open-shop status and prevailing-wage rules.

Organized by CSI MasterFormat

Estimates follow MasterFormat divisions, so they drop straight into bid forms, schedules of values and buyout logs.

Two-step quality review

A second estimator checks quantities, units, math and exclusions before anything is delivered to you.

Transparent, traceable takeoffs

Color-coded, marked-up drawings show exactly what was measured, so your team can verify any line in minutes.

Bid-day responsive

Addenda, alternates and late scope changes are turned around fast, so you never submit stale numbers.

Confidential by default

Plans and pricing are seen only by the estimators on your job. We sign NDAs on request.

Our process

How Our Construction Estimating Process Works

Five clear steps, one point of contact and no surprises on price. Most clients go from first email to finished estimate without a single phone call — but an estimator is always available if you want to talk scope.

Send your plans
Email drawings, specs and addenda or share a plan-room link. See what to send us.
Get a fixed quote
We confirm trades, scope and due date, then send a fixed price — usually within a few business hours.
Takeoff & pricing
Estimators measure every item in PlanSwift, Bluebeam or OST and price it with local rates.
Quality review
A senior estimator checks quantities, math, units and exclusions against the drawings.
Delivery & support
You get the Excel estimate and marked-up PDFs, plus revisions when addenda are issued.

Trades we estimate

Trade Estimating Services Across Every CSI Division

Subcontractors and trade contractors use our takeoffs to bid more work with the same office staff. Each trade estimate follows the MasterFormat division structure, uses trade-specific productivity rates and lists materials the way your suppliers sell them. Select a division to see what is included.

Sample construction estimate summary by CSI division with material, labor, markups and cost per square foot

What you receive

What’s Inside Every Construction Estimate We Deliver

You get files your team can open, edit and submit — not a locked PDF with a single number on it.

Estimate summary by CSI division with subtotals, markups and a clear grand total
Line-item detail — quantity, unit, material cost, labor hours, labor cost and equipment
Marked-up, color-coded PDF takeoff for every sheet we measured
Material list with sizes, waste factors and supplier-ready units
Assumptions, clarifications, exclusions and alternates written for your proposal
Native files on request — PlanSwift, Bluebeam, On-Screen Takeoff or Excel

Estimate accuracy

How Accurate Is a Construction Estimate?

Short answer: accuracy depends on how complete the design is. A conceptual budget from early sketches can swing by 30% or more, while a detailed estimate from complete construction documents is typically within a few percent of the final bid-day cost. The industry standard for describing this is the AACE International estimate class system.

Ranges from AACE International Recommended Practice 18R-97 (Cost Estimate Classification System). RP 56R-08 applies the same five classes to building and general construction.
AACE class	Design maturity	Typical purpose	Expected accuracy (low / high)	PES service
Class 5	0% – 2%	Concept screening	−20% to −50% / +30% to +100%	Preliminary & budget estimate
Class 4	1% – 15%	Feasibility study	−15% to −30% / +20% to +50%	Preliminary & budget estimate
Class 3	10% – 40%	Budget authorization	−10% to −20% / +10% to +30%	Construction cost estimate
Class 2	30% – 75%	Project control or bid	−5% to −15% / +5% to +20%	Bid estimate
Class 1	65% – 100%	Check estimate or bid	−3% to −10% / +3% to +15%	Detailed takeoff & bid estimate

Most of our bid estimates are prepared from complete or near-complete construction documents (Class 2 to Class 1). When drawings are early or incomplete, we say so in writing, list every assumption and show which line items carry the most risk — so the number you submit is one you understand. See our quality & accuracy process for how each estimate is checked.

How we price

How We Price Your Estimate: Local Cost Data, Not Guesswork

A quantity is only as good as the unit cost behind it. Every PES estimate is built from four cost layers, each adjusted to where and when your project will be built.

Wondering what an estimate costs? Most single-trade takeoffs are quoted at a flat fee and full multi-trade estimates are priced by scope — see our pricing page or request a free quote.

Material pricing

Current supplier quotes and cost databases for the project’s region. Volatile items — steel, copper, lumber, asphalt — are checked at the time of the estimate.

Labor rates & productivity

Local wage rates for union or open-shop crews, Davis-Bacon and state prevailing wages on public work, and trade-specific production rates.

Equipment & general conditions

Equipment rental, mobilization, supervision, temporary facilities, permits, cleanup and safety — the costs that sink bids when they are missed.

Overhead, profit & contingency

Your markups, or recommended ranges for the project type, plus escalation and contingency for long schedules or incomplete design.

Who we serve

Estimating Support for Every Team That Plans and Builds

Different clients need different answers from the same drawings. We tailor the format, level of detail and deliverables to how you will use the numbers.

General Contractors

Full bid packages, sub-bid leveling and GMP budgets so you can bid more jobs without adding headcount.

Subcontractors & Trade Contractors

Single-trade takeoffs and priced proposals for concrete, drywall, MEP, roofing and every other trade.

Developers & Owners

Feasibility budgets, pro-forma cost inputs and independent checks of contractor pricing.

Architects & Designers

Schematic, design-development and CD-stage estimates that keep the design inside the owner's budget.

Engineers

Engineer's estimates and opinions of probable cost for civil, structural and MEP designs.

Material Suppliers & Manufacturers

Fast material takeoffs from bid documents so your sales team can quote more projects.

Lenders & Banks

Independent cost reviews of construction budgets before you fund a loan or release a draw.

Property & Facility Managers

Budgets for capital improvements, tenant fit-outs, repairs and reserve studies.

Where we work

Construction Estimating Services in All 50 States

Our estimators work remotely from Philadelphia and price every project for its location — local labor rates, material costs, sales tax, prevailing-wage rules and the building-code edition your jurisdiction has adopted. Choose your state for local cost factors, code notes and the services available there.

Projects in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia are handled by our dedicated state teams — contact us and we’ll route your plans to the right estimator.

Outsourcing vs. hiring

In-House Estimator vs. Outsourced Construction Estimating Services

Many contractors use both: an in-house chief estimator who owns the bid strategy, and an outsourced team that absorbs the takeoff workload during busy bid seasons. Here is how the two options compare.

Factor	Full-time in-house estimator	Professional Estimating Services
Cost structure	Salary, benefits, payroll tax and office overhead every month, busy or not	Pay per project or on a monthly plan — no idle time
Capacity in bid season	Limited to one person’s hours; bids get passed on	Scales with your bid list; several estimators can work one bid
Software & cost data	You buy and maintain takeoff software and cost-database licenses	Included — PlanSwift, Bluebeam, OST, STACK, Accubid, RSMeans
Trade coverage	Strong in their own trade, weaker in others	Trade leads across all 34 CSI divisions
Quality control	Often self-checked under deadline	Second-estimator review on every takeoff
Best for	Steady, single-market workload and bid strategy	Variable volume, new markets, unfamiliar trades and tight deadlines

Need an estimator embedded with your team? Compare our outsource estimating service for monthly volume with options to hire a construction estimator for a dedicated seat.

Proof, not promises

See Real Work Before You Send Us Yours

Review sample estimates, browse completed projects and read verified client reviews. We publish real feedback only — no edited or invented testimonials.

FAQs

Construction Estimating Services FAQs

Straight answers to the questions contractors ask before sending their first set of plans.

What do construction estimating services include?

A full-service estimate includes the quantity takeoff, unit pricing for material, labor and equipment, general conditions, overhead and profit, plus written assumptions and exclusions. With PES you also receive marked-up PDFs and an editable Excel workbook. You can order the takeoff only if you prefer to price it yourself.

How much do construction estimating services cost?

Cost depends on project size, number of trades, drawing quality and deadline. Single-trade takeoffs are usually quoted at a flat fee, while full multi-trade estimates are priced by scope. You always get a fixed quote before work starts — see pricing or request a free quote.

How long does a construction estimate take?

Standard residential and single-trade takeoffs are typically delivered in 24 to 48 hours. Larger commercial and multi-trade bids usually take three to five business days and are scheduled backward from your bid due date. Rush delivery is available when estimator capacity allows.

How accurate are your estimates?

Accuracy depends mainly on design completeness. Estimates from complete construction documents typically fall within a few percent of bid-day cost (AACE Class 1–2), while early conceptual budgets carry wider ranges. Every PES estimate goes through a second-estimator review — see quality & accuracy.

What files do you need to start an estimate?

Send the drawings (PDF, DWG, RVT or IFC), specifications, addenda and the bid form if there is one, along with the project ZIP code and bid date. A plan-room or Dropbox link works too. Our what to send us page has a full checklist.

What is the difference between a quantity takeoff and a cost estimate?

A quantity takeoff measures what is on the drawings — square feet of drywall, cubic yards of concrete, linear feet of pipe. A cost estimate applies material, labor and equipment prices to those quantities and adds markups to reach a total project cost.

Do you use local labor and material rates?

Yes. Each estimate is priced for the project’s location using regional material pricing, local wage rates for union or open-shop labor, prevailing wages on public projects and local sales tax. Select your state on our states we serve page for local details.

Which estimating software do you use?

Our estimators work in PlanSwift, Bluebeam Revu, On-Screen Takeoff, STACK, Trimble Accubid and Excel, with RSMeans data for cost benchmarking. Native files can be delivered so your team can keep working in the same software — see estimating software.

Can you estimate just one trade?

Yes. Many of our clients are subcontractors who need one trade priced fast — for example concrete, drywall, electrical or roofing. Single-trade estimates follow the same review process as full bids.

Do you work with developers, owners and homeowners?

We work mainly with contractors, but developers, owners and design teams use us for feasibility budgets and independent cost checks. Homeowners planning a large renovation or addition can order a renovation estimate to compare contractor bids.

Is my project information kept confidential?

Yes. Drawings, pricing and bid information are used only to prepare your deliverables and are shared only with the estimators assigned to your project. We sign NDAs on request — see our confidentiality & NDA policy.

Do you revise estimates when addenda are issued?

Yes. Send the addendum and we update the affected quantities and pricing, then flag every change in the summary so you can see what moved. Revision terms are listed in our refund & revision policy.

Start your estimate

Send Your Plans Today. Get a Fixed-Price Quote in Hours.

Tell us the project, the trades and the bid date. An estimator will review your drawings and reply with scope, turnaround and a fixed price — with no obligation to proceed.

1 (267) 991 0966
contact@professionalestimatingservices.com
617 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19146, USA