Services
At Dream Estimating we pride ourselves on quick turnarounds - on takeoffs and on estimates at any phase of your construction project. Whether it is a preliminary estimate, a budget estimate, a conceptual estimate or a final construction estimate your project can be completed and back to you in 24 to 36 hours in most cases.
We Offer 4 Major Services
01.
Construction Cost Estimation
02.
Scheduling Of Construction Project
03.
Planning Of Construction Project
04.
Quantity & Material Takeoff
01. Construction Cost Estimation
A detailed construction cost estimation is necessary for predicting the cost of any facility or structure under construction. It is an important part of the overall cost management for the builder, as well as necessary for budget adherence.
Different Types of Construction Cost Estimates
Historically, most construction cost estimates were either prepared by architects, or by contractors or other specialist estimating firms. Although several different factors are considered while forming an exhaustive construction cost estimate, they generally are of the following three types.
Design Estimates
- Design Estimates
- Screening estimates
- Engineer’s estimates (based on specifications and architectural plans).
- Preliminary cost estimates
Control Estimates
- Budget cost estimate for financing purposes.
- Budgeted cost after assigning to contractor but before construction.
- Estimated cost of completion during ongoing construction.
Bid Estimates
Generally submitted by the contractor/builder/owner for bidding or negotiation.
The Requirement for Construction Cost Estimation Services
As new project delivery methods for constructions continue to evolve, Our highly respected Company have foray of construction cost estimation services. Our company have the capability and the experience to provide the following services, amongst others.
- Building Cost Estimation.
- Residential Construction Cost Estimation.
- To estimate project construction budgets.
- To establish financing requirements.
- To establish benchmarks for a construction bid.
- Establish whether a proposed new construction plan is profitable or not.
We provide service to the following clients
Residential Estimates
Commercial Estimates
Civil
Estimates
Industrial Estimates
MEP
Estimates
Masonry & Concrete Estimates
Other Specialty Estimates
Quick Turn Around Service
02. Scheduling
Scheduling is the process of converting a general or outline plan for a project into a time-based schedule predicated upon durations, significance, external order relationships, resource availability and target dates. The recognition of realistic time and resource constraints may influence the execution of the plan.
All of our design and construction schedules are developed using Primavera P6 software. They are analyzed and updated on a monthly basis to reflect real time changes, highlighting potential delays, slippage, and critical tasks. As a cost control tool, we load the schedule with cost and resources to reflect progress, cash flow, earned value, and overall cost.
The most important reason for developing a schedule is to manage the work. Benefits to a schedule are improved communications between the prime and sub-contractors and between the owner and the contractors during the course of construction. Our scheduling services include time impact analysis and extension of time claims.
Scheduling is essential to the success of any construction project. During construction, an effective schedule will benefit both the owner and contractor by monitoring the progress of the contract, identifying problems and delays that arise during construction and evaluating the causes of delays and disruptions.
Scheduling ultimately helps contractors better manage the project and owners better control the project. This results in mitigating, reducing and/or avoiding claims leading to increased profitability.
Dream Estimating Specialization
Dream Estimating specializes in preparation, review and analysis of construction schedules during all stages of a construction project, including conceptual planning, pre-bid, pre-construction, construction and post-construction.
Maintaining
In developing the schedule for a project, the information comes from a variety of sources. Submittal requirements are developed from the specifications and other contract documents. Installation activities and interfaces are determined from the estimate and contract documents. Manpower levels, duration’s and cost loading information for the schedule are derived from the estimate. In addition to these sources management and supervisory personnel for the project participate in the development of the schedule.
Dream Estimating provides cost effective scheduling services at several levels:
- Evaluate contractor prepared schedule for reasonableness, accuracy, and completeness and provide recommendations to increase effectiveness.
- Review contractor prepared schedule for contract compliance and provide evaluation.
- Prepare working schedule in accordance with contract requirements.
- Prepare Linear Schedule from working schedule or contractor input.
Schedule Risk Analysis
We provide schedule risk analysis to identify risk early, maximize risk mitigation options and minimizing cost overruns and delays.
Utilizing the latest industry software, our Schedulers develop and analyze schedules for building, industrial and civil projects. We represent Prime Contractors, Sub-contractors, Owners and Insurance companies in Builder’s Risk, Contract Dispute and Surety Bond claims involving time element issues.
Project Planning Schedules
- Planning Schedule for Owners, Developers and Design Professionals.
- Bid Schedule and “What-If” Study.
- Contract Required CPM Schedule with Cost and Resource Loading.
Progress Schedule Updates & Monitoring
- Contractor Schedule Update and Progress Report.
- Comparison of Actual versus Planned Production Graphics.
- Identification and Documentation of Changes, Delays or Acceleration.
Benifits We Deliver To You
- Early discovery & assessment of items that critically impact your schedule.
- Ability to maximize time recoveries and reduce the cost impact of slippage.
- Reduce costs associated with schedule delays.
- Deliver your project on-time.
A schedule has many applications during the construction phase besides indicating progress and critical activities. A well-developed schedule can be used for cash flow projections and progress payment requests. Variations can be studied to determine potential delays to the work or to determine alternate sequences. Manpower projections, phasing interfaces, and other capabilities are available.
Improving The Accuracy And Predictability Of Schedules
Schedule Risk Analysis (SRA) services provide quantifiable data regarding the healthy pace of a project by identifying, assessing and mitigating schedule risk using proven statistical simulation techniques. SRA services can be effective at any point of the project; however, early discovery maximizes value. It is a proactive schedule risk approach.
These schedule services can be implemented at one phase of a project or implemented throughout every phase of the project from the initial needs assessment, through planning and design phase, during construction, commissioning, operations or decommissioning.
03. Planning Of Construction Project
Planning is the first step of project management philosophy of planning, organizing and controlling the execution of the projects. Project planning and project scheduling is two separate and distinct function of the project management. Here, we will learn about the planning phase of project management. Project planning is the function in which project and construction managers and their key staff members prepares the master plan. Then this master plan is put into time schedule by scheduling people which is called project scheduling.
A project plan is mostly responsible for the success or failure of the project.
Planning is a bridge between the experiences of the past projects and the proposed actions that produces favorable results in the future. It can also be said that it is a precaution by which we can reduce undesirable effects or unexpected happenings and thereby eliminating confusion, waste, and loss of efficiency. Planning involves prior determination, specification of factors, forces, effects and relationships necessary to reach the desired goals.
Design Estimates
- Design Estimates
- Screening estimates
- Engineer’s estimates (based on specifications and architectural plans).
- Preliminary cost estimates
Control Estimates
- Budget cost estimate for financing purposes.
- Budgeted cost after assigning to contractor but before construction.
- Estimated cost of completion during construction.
Types of Planning:
There are several types of project planning. The three major types of construction project planning are:
Strategic planning:
This involves the high-level selection of the project objectives.
Operational planning:
This involves the detailed planning required to meet the strategic objectives.
Strategic planning:
Strategic planning is done by the owner’s corporate planners. In this they
decide what project to build and what the completion date has to be to meet the owner’s project goals. The construction teams formulates the master construction execution plan within the guidelines set in the strategic and contracting plans.
Operational Planning:
Operational planning is done by construction teams. They ask certain questions
before making operational plan for the project. They are:
- Will the operational plan meet the strategic planning target date?
- Are sufficient construction resources and services available within the company
to meet the project objectives? - What is the impact of the new project on the existing work load?
- Where will we get the resources to handle any overload?
- What company policies may prevent the plan from meeting the target date?
- Is the original contracting plan still valid?
- Will it be more economical to use a fast-track scheduling approach?
Planning Philosophy
Planning should be done logically, thoroughly and honestly to have a chance to succeed. The previous experiences of projects provides basic planning logic.
Then difference between previous projects and current projects shall be known to make any exceptional features in the basic planning logic. These differences can be unusual client requirement, out of the way location, potential external or internal delaying factors etc.
These potential problems shall have to be tackled in order to reduce their negative effect preparing master plan of the project and later scheduling of the project. Provide each aspect of the plan an individual scrutiny with input from past experiences and from experts.
All these questions are answered in preparation of the construction master plan before detailed scheduling of the project.
What is Construction Master Plan?
A construction master plan addresses how will the project be planned, organized, and major work activities be controlled to meet the goals of finishing the work on time, within budget and as specified. A construction master plan addresses how will the project be planned, organized, and major work activities be controlled to meet the goals of finishing the work on time, within budget and as specified.
A construction master plan addresses how will the project be planned, organized, and major work activities be controlled to meet the goals of finishing the work on time, within budget and as specified.
Contracting plan is the major consideration in formulating the master construction plan, which answers a lot of questions. Questions related to government and social restraint, resources for construction, owner’s policies or legal requirements, contractual requirement affecting master plan are not answered by contracting plan. Answers to these questions must be found during the development of the project execution plan.
Project execution plan shall be reviewed and evaluation shall be done as the work progresses. Minor variations are common but major changes shall be considered with extreme caution.
04. Quantity & Material Takeoff
The Role Of The Material Estimator
Even the most reliable software and modeling programs are tools. The human factor is still the most vital part of the construction equation. You want an experienced eye in order to achieve a successful and accurate cost projection.
An experienced Material Estimator has the skills and knowledge to guide you
through the entire process from beginning to end.
Our experience will enable us to fill in the blanks that always exist in the initial
phases of a proposed project. More profit margin dollars can be lost by mistakes
in the framing materials order than in any other part of the process. That is why
after evaluating many software packages, we purchased a full-featured system that allows us to tailor our Material Estimates to local practices.
Dream Estimating Take Off Services
Takeoffs are complete and very accurate. Often we hear of Material Suppliers, Framers, and other Trades omissions, which gives the false appearance of too low of a price. Use our list with confidence, it includes that which is needed to complete the project.
Detailed Construction Material Estimating Pays for Itself. A successful Material Estimate starts and ends with our professional staff. We will review your plans and requirements, then start the process of developing a complete job Material Estimate.
Your Material Estimate is much more than just a count of material. It is your best tool for controlling Costs and optimizing construction methods in order to be more competitive in a difficult market.
Service Area
We have clients that have construction projects being built in many parts of the country. So no matter where you are located or the project you are bidding, we provide Estimating services all over the United States.
We specialize in material takeoffs and quantity surveys for both labor and materials and for most construction trades. One of our construction Estimators will quantify from the blueprints, all the materials and accessories needed for your trade. It will be in Microsoft Excel or Adobe , in the format you need, so you can send it out to bid quickly.
We can quantify building materials faster and more accurate than most Estimators. We calculate every material item required to build any size project. Our Estimator will list the items by location as well. Your superintendents and sub-contractors benefit from this because it helps them identify easily where every item goes.
Specialization
We specialize in preparing material takeoffs and material lists for every construction trade. One of our construction estimators will quantify from the blueprints, all the materials and accessories needed for your trade. It will be in Microsoft Excel, in the format you need, so you can send it out to bid quickly.
Here is list of takeoffs that a cost estimator can do for you:
- Planning
- Scheduling
- Quantity & Material Takeoff
- Cost Estimation
- General Requirements
- Concrete Takeoff
- Site Construction
- Concrete
- Masonry
- Metals
- Wood and Plastics
- Thermal and Moisture Protection
- Doors and Windows
- Finishes
- Specialties
- Conveying Systems
- Equipment
- Furnishings
- Electrical
- Special Construction
Our clients are building professionals of all kinds that perform private and public work. We provide building cost estimates such as conceptual cost estimates, bid estimates, project cost management, material takeoffs, material field audits, software consulting, and expert witness representation.
