Estimating Books

RSMeans Building Construction Cost Data 2009 (Means Building Construction Cost Data)

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Subjects -> Reference -> General AAS

Construction Business Management: What Every Construction Contractor, Builder & Subcontractor Needs to Know

Nick Ganaway

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Subjects -> Business & Investing -> General AAS
Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Home Design -> Buildings & Construction

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Written by a general contractor of 25 years, Construction Business Management offers the lessons learned from both good and not-so-good decisions. Read what it takes to build all aspects of a business that’s profitable, enjoyable, and enduring:

a.. Contract Terms & Conditions (to include and to avoid) b.. Fair Allocation of Risk Between Contractor and Owner c.. How to Make Sure You’re Paid What You're Owed d.. Critical Dos and Don'ts of Mechanics Liens e.. How to Select, Hire, and Keep Golden Employees f.. How to Choose Accountants, Lawyers & Insurance Agents g.. How to Target, Check out, Land, & Retain Profitable Customers h.. Effective Marketing Even the Smallest Contractor Can Afford i.. The Required Success Characteristics of a Contractor j.. Avoiding the 57% Four-Year Contractor Failure Rate k.. Opportunities & Requirements of Retail Construction l.. The Importance of the “Human Factor” And much more that will pay off now and throughout your career.
Written for contractors, key employees, subcontractors, students, and facility executives. Check out the Table of Contents for more detail.

Inspecting a House (For Pros by Pros)

Rex Cauldwell

Amazon Price: $16.47 List Price: $24.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Taunton Amazon Marketplace: 74 new & used starting at $4.94

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Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Real Estate -> Buying & Selling Homes
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 19 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

The positive reviews are too good to be true. 1 out of 5 stars.
7 of 13 people found this review helpful.

I purchased this book and found that I should have listened to the bad reviews written about this book before buying. The postive reviews are too good to be true - buyer beware. I agree with the comments of some of the bad reviews exactly:
"The author of this book needs to learn proper home inspection procedures before he sells himself as knowledgable. I have been inspecting homes for 19 years and often give lectures on the topic. After reading most of this book I realized what a waste of money it was because the information was incorrect or incomplete. I can't believe how many mistakes I found in this book. I'm glad I returned it for a refund on my money but not happy I wasted my time reading it!"

Don't wast your time reading it either!

Editorial Review:

This pro-level guide to inspecting a house is a tool for evaluating property inside and out. It includes a discussion of current building materials, heating, electrical and plumbing systems, foundations, and more. This book can help anyone determine the soundness of a house.

RSMeans Electrical Cost Data 2009 (Means Electrical Cost Data)

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Subjects -> Professional & Technical -> Engineering -> Civil -> Construction -> Electrical
Subjects -> Professional & Technical -> Engineering -> Civil -> Construction -> Estimating

DEWALT Construction Estimating Professional Reference (Dewalt Trade Reference Series)

Adam Ding

Amazon Price: $17.95 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: DEWALT Amazon Marketplace: 18 new & used starting at $14.99

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

I am loving it 5 out of 5 stars.
14 of 16 people found this review helpful.

I just received my copy today. I always prefer DeWalt books(used to be "Pal" books) because they are convenient and more importantly, to-the-point. Still, I fell in love with this one the moment I flipped through pages. Unlike the big and heavy books I used to struggle with when I was in school, this compact book offers direct answers to so many questions. The book also introduced a very organized approach for the bidding game, in addition to its 200+ estimating tips. Thus I believe it will be handy for both general and trade contractors. Whether you need to be jack-of-all-trades or specialize on certain line of work, this book is a must.

If you are always doubtful whether there is ever an estimating book worth buying, try this one. It is down to earth and saves so much time. Well worth the money!

Editorial Review:

This unique and easy-to-understand pocket guide was developed by a real-world contractor who has perfected the art of construction estimating! The DEWALT Construction Estimating Professional Reference is the only resource individuals need for learning to successfully bid on a variety of construction projects. Chock-full of practical advice based on the author’s real-life experience in bidding countless construction jobs, this essential reference explores such key topics as forms and checklists, subcontractors and suppliers, procedures, trade evaluation, costs, profit, and overheads, and much more!

2008 National Construction Estimator

Amazon Price: $36.23 List Price: $57.50 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Craftsman Book Company Amazon Marketplace: 24 new & used starting at $32.61

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Subjects -> Science -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Info for people who need info 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

The book is nothing fancy but easy to use. The software was an added bonus.

I found its pricing to be consistant with pricing in my area.

At the price, it is hard to go wrong.

Editorial Review:

54th Annual Edition - Current building costs for residential, commercial, and industrial construction. Estimated prices for every common building material. Provides manhours, recommended crew, and gives the labor cost for installation. Includes a CD-ROM with an electronic version of the book with National Estimator, a stand-alone Windows estimating program, plus an interactive multimedia video that shows how to use the disk to compile construction cost estimates. Revised annually.

Included with National Estimator CD-ROM:

Job Cost Wizard – turns estimates into invoices and exports both in QuickBooks Free Online Technical Support – for the National Estimator Software Free Monthly National Estimator Updates – Updates to the 2006 costbooks and zip code modification factors are updated monthly. Monthly price updates on the Web are free and automatic all during 2006. You'll be prompted when it's time to collect the next update. A connection to the Web is required.

RSMeans Building Construction Cost Data 2008, 66th Edition (Means Building Construction Cost Data)

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A useful encyclopedia of cost data - application for managment use could be improved 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book, and its previous editions, has long been a standby reference for building owners, facility managers, and architects and, to a lesser extent, contractors.

The base cost information is broad, extensive, and detailed. However, this base information must be adjusted for area of the country, building type, and project specific productivity influencing factors. Each of these adjusting factors is critical, and cumulatively the adjustment can be significantly large - over 100% of base costs. This is too broad a range of adjustment to permit utilizaion of the adjusted cost figures with confidence.

More attention to determination of these adjustment factors would increase the accuracy of the adjusted costs, and make this book more valuable.

Choosing Project Success - A Guide for Building Professionals

Perfect 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Product was as specified, brand new and was received in a timely manner. Will definitely make future purchases. Thanks!

Would recommend this seller. 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I wouldn't say they went out of there way to make sure I got it as soon as possible but I received it within a reasonable time period and would buy from this seller again.

RS Means Mechanical Cost Data 2009 (Means Mechanical Cost Data)

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Subjects -> Professional & Technical -> Engineering -> Mechanical -> General
Subjects -> Professional & Technical -> Engineering -> Mechanical -> General AAS

Residential Repair & Remodeling Costs 2008: Contractor's Pricing Guide (Means Residential Repair & Remodeling Costs)

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Means Residential Repair Remodeling Costs 2008 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Very well put together. The book is very easy to navigate and the material is assembled in a very easy format. Golad I now haqve my own copy of the book where I won't have to borrow my friend's copy. I use it every day.

Roofing Construction & Estimating

Daniel Atcheson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

The roofing book for those who have never been on a roof 2 out of 5 stars.
30 of 33 people found this review helpful.

This is an informative book that would be acceptable material for the person who has never been on a roof. He covers most roofing products in a adaquate manner explaining many of the basic princibles. However, as a roofer, it would have been nice to see what he considers acceptable manhours per square on each product, using his experiance, instead of using information drawn from other books.

Roofing Construction & Estimating 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 7 people found this review helpful.

This book is what I've been looking for, college type material for the person who likes to self teach. Thank-you

A highly recommended specialized reference 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 7 people found this review helpful.

In "Roofing Construction & Estimating", Dan Atcheson draws upon his many years of experience and expertise as a draftsman, as an apprentice in plumbing, electrical and carpenter, as a professional in all areas of construction from earthwork, to framing, to roofing. The result is an impressively 'user friendly' instructional compendium on roof sheathing, underlayment, asphalt shinglers, wood shingles and shakes, mineral-surfaced roll roofing, tile and slate roofing, metal roofing and siding, as well as built-up and elastomeric roofing. Profusely illustrated, enhanced with tables, charts, calculations, examples, step-by-step instruction and repair procedures, "Roofing Construction & Estimating" is ideal for novice or do-it-yourself roofer, and would make an invaluable reference for even the more experienced roofing contractor with respect to making a roofing estimate, installing or repairing roofing in residential or commercial buildings. A highly recommended specialized reference, "Roofing Construction & Estimating" should be a part of every professional, trade school, and community library Building Contractor or Architecture reference collection.