Perhaps the scariest part of the whole housebuilding process is estimating. Unpredictable weather conditions, unforeseen cost increases, and poorly qualified bids from subs can all add to the uncertainty. The only effective strategy for reducing the risk and anxiety associated with job costing is a thorough, systematic approach to your work. The NAHB's Estimating for Home Builders provides the background against which you can develop a method that works for you. Beginning with a broad overview, you'll learn how to qualify your bids with allowances, what sequence to use in estimating, and how to write a contract proposal or evaluate those you get from subs. The author examines the differences between lump-sum and unit-cost subcontracts, and how a "price" differs from
