Residential Estimating Services for Builders, Remodelers and Homeowners
Build Plans And Estimates delivers residential estimating services: a complete material, labor and equipment takeoff from your plans, organized by CSI division, with a clear cost summary in Excel and PDF. Most home estimates are ready in 24 to 72 hours.
Plans in, priced estimate out. No obligation.
What do our residential estimating services deliver?
Whether you are bidding a new home, pricing an addition or checking a contractor's number, you receive a package you can use the same day. Every estimating service we offer for homes includes:
- Quantity takeoff: measured counts, areas, lengths and volumes pulled directly from your drawings.
- Priced estimate: materials, labor, equipment and subcontractor costs, with overhead and profit shown separately so you can adjust them.
- Scope sheet: written assumptions, allowances and exclusions, so nothing is hidden.
- Editable files: an Excel workbook and a PDF summary, ready for bids, lenders or client presentations.
- One revision round if plans or finishes change.
It is the same discipline used in our construction takeoff services, scaled to the way houses are actually built and sold.
What is included in a residential takeoff?
We organize every home estimate by CSI MasterFormat division, so each cost can be traced back to a drawing sheet and compared with any contractor bid.
| CSI division | Typical line items |
|---|---|
| 01 General Requirements | Permits allowance, temporary power and toilet, dumpsters, supervision, final cleaning |
| 02 Existing Conditions | Selective demolition, haul-off, protection (remodels and additions) |
| 03 Concrete | Footings, foundation walls, slabs, flatwork, rebar, anchor bolts |
| 04 Masonry | Brick and stone veneer, CMU, chimneys, mortar and ties |
| 05 Metals | Steel beams, columns, lintels, stair and deck railings |
| 06 Wood and Composites | Framing lumber, sheathing, trusses, I-joists, cabinets, trim carpentry |
| 07 Thermal and Moisture | Insulation, house wrap, roofing, siding, gutters, waterproofing |
| 08 Openings | Windows, exterior and interior doors, garage doors, hardware |
| 09 Finishes | Drywall, paint, flooring, tile, countertops, interior trim |
| 10-12 Specialties and Equipment | Bath accessories, fireplaces, appliances, closet systems |
| 22, 23, 26 MEP | Plumbing fixtures and rough-in, HVAC equipment and ductwork, electrical panels, devices and fixtures |
| 31-32 Site and Exterior | Excavation, backfill, driveway, walkways, fencing, basic landscaping |
Standard assumptions
Drawings are current and complete. Pricing reflects the project ZIP code. Normal waste factors apply, typically 5 to 10 percent by material. Standard ceiling heights unless noted. Quote valid for 30 days.
Standard exclusions
Land cost, design and engineering fees, impact fees, rock excavation, soil remediation, owner-supplied items, furniture, financing and contingency (unless requested).
Software and cost databases we use for homes
Residential work rewards speed and accuracy on framing, finishes and repeated assemblies. Our toolset reflects that:
- Bluebeam Revu: PDF plan markup and measurement for walls, roofs and floor areas.
- PlanSwift and On-Screen Takeoff: digital takeoff of linear, area and count items with assembly formulas for studs, joists and sheathing.
- Excel estimating templates: division-by-division workbooks you can edit and reuse.
- RSMeans and local unit-cost data: benchmark costs adjusted by location, checked against current supplier and subcontractor pricing.
- Xactimate: available for repair and insurance-style remodel scopes.
Browse our full estimating services to see how this stack supports other project types.
Residential projects we estimate
Each home type has its own cost drivers. Pick yours to see how we handle it.
Single-Family Homes
Foundation-to-roof takeoffs for new builds and spec homes.
Multi-Family Houses
Repeating units and shared walls priced per unit and in total.
Duplex and Triplex
Separate unit pricing with fire-rated assemblies between units.
Custom Homes
Allowance-ready numbers for upgraded finishes and unique designs.
Modular Homes
Module cost, crane and set, plus foundation and finish-out.
Apartments
Unit-by-unit and building-wide takeoffs, including corridors.
Bungalows
Single-level homes with accurate roof and slab quantities.
Townhouses
Party walls and repeated plans estimated once, scaled across units.
Mansions
High-end finishes, large spans and complex roofs, line by line.
Condominiums
Unit interiors separated from shared building elements.
Home Additions
New work plus demolition, tie-ins and structural changes.
Home Improvements
Kitchens, baths, roofs, decks and windows with a tight scope.
Remodeling
Demo, rough-in changes and finish upgrades with contingency guidance.
Download a sample residential estimate
See exactly what you will receive. This client-safe example covers a 2,400 sq ft, two-story, four-bedroom home, with every division, markup, assumption and exclusion laid out. All names and figures are illustrative.
Turnaround time and pricing
Pricing depends on size, plan detail and trade scope. These starting prices give you a clear baseline, and your free quote confirms the exact figure before any work begins.
| Project type | Turnaround | Starting at |
|---|---|---|
| Remodels, improvements, additions | 24 to 48 hours | $199 |
| Single-family, bungalows, townhouses | 48 to 72 hours | $299 |
| Duplex, triplex, modular homes | 2 to 3 business days | $399 |
| Custom homes and mansions | 2 to 4 business days | $599 |
| Multi-family, apartments, condominiums | 2 to 4 business days | $799 |
Rush delivery is available on request. See full pricing for add-ons.
How it works in 4 steps
Send your plans
Upload PDF drawings, specs and finish notes through our contact page or email.
Receive your quote
We review the documents and confirm price and delivery date, usually within hours.
We build the estimate
Our estimators measure every trade, apply local pricing and document each assumption.
Delivery
You get the Excel workbook and PDF summary, plus one revision round if plans change.
Frequently Asked Questions
A full quantity takeoff, priced estimate by CSI division, written assumptions and exclusions, plus Excel and PDF files. Overhead and profit appear as separate lines so you can adjust them.
Accuracy depends on plan detail. We price from your drawings using current local rates and flag unclear items as allowances, so you know exactly where the estimate may move.
Yes. We price demolition, tie-ins and new work separately so you can see what the remodel adds beyond a new build. Dimensioned drawings or measured sketches are needed for a reliable number.
PDF is preferred. We also accept DWG files and clear photos or scans of drawings. Include finish schedules and specifications when available.
Permit costs are shown as an allowance when requested. Overhead and profit are listed as their own lines, set to your percentages.
One revision round for minor changes is included. Larger design changes receive a quick updated quote.
Ready for an accurate residential estimate?
Send your plans and get a free quote with a firm price and delivery date. Need commercial pricing too? See our commercial estimating services.
