Top 8 Estimating Challenges Contractors Face

By Jobba. 

After conducting a survey of our user database, here are the top challenges contractors have when it comes to their estimation processes. 

Here at Jobba Trade Technologies, we like to get some input from roofing contractors about the challenges they face when estimating. We gather this information through a survey and utilize the results to get a better understanding of what our users need. We also like to use this data to find new ways to improve the roofing industry overall.  

The survey consisted of a variety of questions about roofing contractors’ current estimating processes and the challenges they are facing. From the results, the most diverse conclusion was the number of challenges contractors face when asked what their largest estimating challenge is. 

Here are the top eight most common challenges contractors face when it comes to estimating: 

1. Time constraints: The time it takes to provide estimates to customers and determine the length of time required to complete a task is lengthy. 
2. Lack of resources: Contractors do not have enough estimators to handle the workload. 
3. Cost factors: Challenges in estimating the cost of labor and materials in the current market, including the rising costs of materials. 
4. Consistency: Maintaining a consistent approach to estimating and professional proposals. 
5. Data analysis: Gathering historical data and analyzing labor accuracy to improve estimates. 
6. Customization: Challenges in drilling down to the level of detail required to accurately estimate unique conditions and customizing how each item is used or updated. 
7. Customer communication: Explaining to building owners the rising costs of materials and accurately estimating prices for projects starting in the future. 
8. Lead generation: Generating new leads to keep the estimating pipeline full. 

Eugene Zukowski, Senior Product Specialist at Jobba, and John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group, discussed a few of these challenges during a Read, Listen, Watch with Roofers Coffee Shop. They identified the issues and debated ways to solve them using best practices and technology.  

Jobba also provides solutions to some of these common estimating challenges. It can provide complete and organized proposals generated with the click of a button. All information from the inspection and estimating gets auto-populated into the proposals – creating consistency in proposals and estimations. 

The full estimating survey results can be found here: Jobba Estimating Survey Results. 

Original article source: Jobba