FAQs:
Q. What types of estimates do we provide?
Ans. We are specialists in residential, commercial & industrial projects performing estimating services for new construction, remodeling, renovation, skyscrapers, multifamily, retail, wastewater treatment plants, cogeneration plants, warehouses, and highways & Bridges.
Smart Estimations serves General Contractors, Subcontractors, Architects, Real estate developers, Owners, Lenders, Appraisers, and more.
Q. Which trades are we dealing in?
Ans. We deal with all CSI divisions and trades of construction. We provide Civil, Structural, Drywall, Framing, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Roofing, Flooring, Structural & Misc. Steel, Thermal and moisture protection, Fire suppression, Sitework and Lumber takeoffs, and detailed estimates.
Q. How do we price out the projects?
Ans. We use different Databases for pricing like RS means, National Cost estimator by Craftsmen (Zip-code based pricing-which is updated multiple times in the year) so the bid will competitive and accurate as well.
Q. Would you ever provide the same estimate to other clients?
Ans. NO and Never! As President & Owner of Smart Estimations, I ensure high standards and good business ethics. We strongly believe it’s unethical and prohibited to breach your information and disrupt long term business relationships. This is something we never engage in.
We provide consultancy to our clients about how they can be competitive, win bids but also increase their bid-hit ratio.
Q. What if you don’t have plans for the project?
Ans. That’s not a problem either. We will provide an estimate based on the details and specifications you will give us. Our estimators will assume as per their previous data and provide a preliminary estimate for the project.
Q. How do we do estimates if the drawings are not completed?
Ans. Yeah! We work with Architects, Developers, and Design & Engineering Firms that require our services in the early planning and design stages. If you have preliminary drawings or specifications, we would work with that and our estimators will provide an accurate estimate for procurement, supplying, or design purposes.
Q. How much accurate we are in our estimation?
Ans. Our estimators are experts literally, they are engineers, Trade specialists, Field Superintendents, and project managers and for pricing, we use zip-code based pricing that brings into account even inflation, shortages in material, import/export tariffs and natural disaster as well.
Our Payment Policies:
Q. How to start with our construction estimating services?
Ans. First of all, send us plans and project details & specifications at info@smarestimations.com. After that, our estimators will review and revert back with a quote and proposed turnaround time.
After acceptance of a quote by the client, we will send an invoice for payment, once the payment is made. We will start working on your project and deliver it within the proposed time.
Q. How much does it cost for a material takeoff or an estimate?
Ans. Usually, every project’s scope and size are different. Also, we first review drawings/plans and scope of work. Just upload plans in below link and we will review and quote you in a minute..
But quotes are always negotiable and we encourage our clients to send us plans first, get quotes, and close deals with negotiation.
Our quotes are more than 95% acceptable.
Q. Are there any hourly rates for our services?
Ans. Usually, we charge on a per-project basis. We can design an hourly rate that will be suitable for you once you share the details of your project with us. Our estimating services are perfect for busy contractors in that regard and saves 60% of estimation expenses as hiring an in-house estimator.
Q. How can you pay for us?
Ans. We will send you a QuickBooks invoice and PayPal invoice, the one you will feel comfortable with. Yes! We accept credit cards and you can also pay through our link that will send on your email.
Q. Do we charge separately for amendments, changes in drawings, and filing bids?
Ans. We usually do not charge for any small revisions and changes in drawings. While for a considerable addendum we normally charge insignificantly. And also our bid filing charges are separate.
Q. Do we offer any monthly packages and long-term relationships?
Ans. We believe in long term relationships and offer monthly estimation packages that would save your 60% of estimation expenses as compared to in-house estimators.
Q. Are there any binding agreements for monthly packages?
Ans. There are no binding agreements for our clients. No, binding agreements or credit card deductions on a monthly basis automatically.
Our Privacy Policies:
Q. What personal information do we collect from people who come to our website and engage in website chat?
Ans. Whenever we ask for your information i.e. Name, Email, and contact number, either in web chat or on call, are used to provide you the best information for our services or for negotiation on our quote. These are not intended for unsolicited calls or emails.
Q. When do we collect information and how do we use it?
Ans. During website chat, contact form on the website or on-call, elsewhere on Smart Estimations forum, if prompted for a name, email address, or contact number are all intended for providing you better information.
Q. How do we use and protect your information?
Ans. Your personal information will be used for better customer service requests. For protection, we use Malware scanning, SSL certificate and we never ask for credit card information. For invoicing, we use SECURE QUICKBOOKS that never discloses your information to any 3rd party and is credible in the market.
Q. Do we disclose your information to any 3rd parties?
Ans. Neither we disclose nor we have any link with any 3rd parties who ask or require our client’s information.
Q. How do we ensure the California Online Privacy Protection Act?
Ans. CalOPPA ensures that privacy policy is published on the website and also about what information being collected from clients and how will it be used.
The major points of the Law ensure that the visitor can surf our site anonymously and it’s upon the visitor to provide his/her information while there will be no obligation.
The Privacy policy is briefly described in our FAQ section so that the identity of the user remains intact.
Q. Do we ensure COPPA and CANSPAM act?
Ans. Neither our campaigns nor our marketing is intended for children under 13 nor we ask for their personal information. While the CANSPAM act is what we follow and obey, our campaign allows our audience to opt-in or opt-out anytime they intend to not receive our notifications.
Q. Are there any fair information practices implemented in Smart Estimations?
Ans. Absolutely there is no breach of personal, commercial, or bid information between any of the stakeholders and is strictly prohibited. This is what we pronounce and declare to everyone who joins our organization.