Jewson launches Project Estimator, an estimating service run by the trade, for the trade.
Even if business is booming, being able to stand out from the crowd is always a bonus. Having the ability to choose the work you want to do and keep up a good image founded on professionalism and recommendations, is fundamental to a healthy presence in the industry.
Here to help with this is Project Estimator, an estimating service designed entirely with the trade in mind. It benefits from live and accurate pricing, saves valuable time compared to laborious manual processes, and helps trades and builders win more work. From single storey extensions to complete new builds, all types of projects are welcome.
Here at Professional Builder, we were fortunate enough to get an exclusive look at the service, benefitting from a step-by-step walkthrough with Service Delivery Manager Ariana Reeve and Managing Director Andrew Ellis.
So how does it work?
The process is a simple one. It begins with uploading the floor plans, section drawings, elevation and specification (where relevant) in question to Project Estimator’s website or sending them via email. For those feeling old school, you can take your physical plans to a Jewson branch and have them sent them off.
The team will then take a look at your plans and give you a call within 24 hours of receiving them to discuss your project and particulars like your labour rates and profit margins, plus how much an estimate will cost. Estimates don’t have any set rates and are instead different for each project, depending on the complexity of the build and what that’ll entail.
Once payment has been agreed, the team will send you your finalised estimate reports within 3-4 working days.
There you go. As easy as that!
Trade experience
Andrew Ellis, MD of Project Estimator is a former bricklayer himself, and knows the reality of being out on site. Indeed, his army of estimators are armed to the teeth with over 300 years of former trade experience combined.
As Andrew explains himself: “All the estimators that we have on board are builders, they’re not salespeople. They’re people that have been there, seen it and done it, so, their previous experience is one of the biggest strengths that we’ve got in the business. We aren’t just a basic estimating service, there is so much more support that we can offer including helping with programme of works, so that the customer can tailor their site to the actual estimate.”
What you get
The work of these expert estimators is sent back to you as a report in two forms. The first is yours, the “builder’s” report if you will, which contains every last little detail, presented clear as can be.
As well as separate pages showing the price for each section of the build, individual labour costs, profit margins, a bill of quantities and a work schedule, there’s pages of personalised notes to be found from your estimator, specific to your project. These will go through everything from the site set up and foundations to final finishes, laying out considerations or points of interest to be aware of. It’s here that the on-site experience of the Project Estimator team really comes into play. The benefit of a second pair of eyes that’s also experienced in the sector is that they may spot a complication you don’t. More than that, Project Estimator will keep assigning you the same estimator for future projects where possible. That way, your extra pair of eyes knows how you work and how you like to do things.
The second part of your estimate report is what you send to your customer. It makes the estimate incredibly clear and easy to understand, so your customer can see exactly what they’ll get from you as part of the project. Plus, there’s an option to add a payment schedule. This report will bolster your professional image to potential customers far more than a simple final price. Here, you’ll have something that can be personalised with your logo and company name, as well as the client’s name too for that extra touch. It’s the little things that count.
Accurate pricing
As we all know, it’s a funny market out there and prices are often changing. MD Andrew Ellis explains how Jewson – which is owned by STARK UK Building Materials – has solved this with Project Estimator: “Our estimates include live pricing and also take into consideration any upcoming price increases from manufacturers. Because we allow for these increases, our customers shouldn’t necessarily take this as the price they will pay with Jewson, but more as a credible price to charge their customer. We also offer the option to update a previously completed estimate with the latest material prices free of charge. We can then highlight any increases or decreases, line by line, with a comparison report.”
Accurate pricing means you’re not pricing too high, and potentially missing out on work, or too low and losing money.
User-friendly
The estimating reports you’re sent by Project Estimator aren’t just hidden away in an email you have to scroll back to and find. Instead, the service has its own online portal system, called Co-Pilot, which is easy to sign into and navigate around from a mobile device or desktop, and is available 24/7. As a bonus, every bit of info you uploaded or sent over as part of your original plans will be stored here. So, you can access that all, on site, whenever you want. Co-Pilot has been designed to be easy to use with no faff. Just what you want when you’re leading a busy life.
The benefits to an estimating service are numerous. It’s not just a great way to win business and protect your profit margin – you’re also saving time on paperwork, giving you fewer late nights hunched over a computer screen!
For more information on Project Estimator, head into your local Jewson branch or visit https://www.jewson.co.uk/project-estimator
