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Preliminary Estimate

Are your drawings at 30%, 60%, or 90% completion?

Struggling to prepare accurate estimates from incomplete plans? Need a quick preliminary estimate to ensure your project aligns with your client’s budget? Or are your suppliers causing delays with material pricing? At Lester Estimating, we offer fast and detailed preliminary estimates based on square footage costs—helping you assess project feasibility and move forward confidently with your clients.

With over 10 years of experience in the AEC industry, our team has delivered dependable estimates for commercial, residential, public, and private sector projects. Leveraging historical data from past jobs, industry-leading software (PlanSwift, RSMeans, Craftsman), and up-to-date local vendor databases, we generate highly accurate square foot/meter estimates even with minimal design input.

📞 Call us now 540-600-4470
📤 Or email your plans at info@lesterestimatings.com and get a quote within 15 minutes
✨ Enjoy 20% off your first estimate!

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What is a Preliminary Estimate and Why is it Essential?

  • A preliminary (or conceptual) estimate forecasts the total project cost early—before full design development. It helps contractors, developers, and owners make informed decisions on budgeting, feasibility, and scope planning. These estimates rely on historical data, adjusted for size, location, timeline, and market conditions.

Types of Preliminary Estimates We Offer:

  • Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM): Used in the earliest phase; -50% to +50% accuracy.
  • Ballpark Estimate: Based on schematic plans; ±20% accuracy.
  • Budget Estimate: Prepared during project planning using historical data; -10% to +25% accuracy.

Definitive Estimate: Based on detailed design; -5% to +15% accuracy.

Benefits of Our Preliminary Estimates:

  • Set accurate budgets early in the process
  • Assess feasibility and secure financing
  • Provide guidance for architects and designers
  • Support negotiation with GCs and subcontractors
  • Help plan future phases efficiently

Our estimates are simple to interpret, formatted per square foot/meter and broken down by:

  • Total area and individual unit measurements (e.g. rooms, floors)
  • Linear measurements for walls and other elements

What’s Included in Our Preliminary Estimates:

  • Preliminaries
  • Substructures (footings, foundations)
  • Superstructures (walls, roofing, staircases, doors/windows)
  • Interior/Exterior Finishes
  • Fittings
  • HVAC, Plumbing, and Electrical systems
  • Labor, Man-hours, Contingencies, and Project Scheduling

How We Prepare Your Estimate:

  1. Review all project documents to define scope
  2. Match your project with similar past jobs
  3. Apply location, time, and scale-based adjustments
  4. Clearly list assumptions and specifications

We apply reliable location and time indices to factor in inflation, regional material and labor costs, and projected start dates—ensuring that your preliminary numbers are as accurate and defendable as possible.

Getting Started is Easy:

  1. Submit your plans to info@lesterestimatings.com
  2. Receive a quote with pricing, delivery time, and payment options.
  3. Get your estimate in Excel format—standardized or tailored to your needs.

Let Lester Estimating be your reliable partner for cost-effective and time-saving preliminary estimates.

Why Choose Lester Estimating?

  • Quick turnaround (within 24–48 hours)
  • Estimates backed by RSMeans, vendor quotes & software tools
  • Certified Estimators (AACE, AIQS)
  • Competitive pricing (check our [rate card])