Quick repair cost estimates

[Matt Swartzendruber]

I am going to walk through a property on Wednesday and it got me to thinking. How is everyone out there getting a good estimate of repair costs? Does anyone have a spreadsheet, document or formula that they use?

Thanks in advance.

[Michael Do]

As a general contractor in Portland,Or I do a lot of bids based on square foot price. When doing flips and general home remodeling I get the same questions all the time both from serious clients and tire kickers. I've learned to guesstimate projects over the phone to weed out those who think a "simple project" is a few thousand when is really tens of thousands.

Here are a few examples I use, you can find these all over to get good ideas:
Paint: $1-1.20/sqft
laminate Flooring: $2.50/sqft
Hardwood Flooring: $5/sqft
Drywall Repair: $1/sqft
Carpet: $15/sqyd
Handyman Hourly Rate: $30-50
Electrician Hourly: $75
Plumber Hourly: $65
Finish Plumbing: Double Material I.e Toilet cost $100 labor:$100
Granite: $50/sqft
Windows: $500/window
Demo: $1/sqft
Trim: $1.50/ft

I like to have investors and realtors to email me pictures and scope of work and I give them a rough number in about half an hour. If it's close they then hire me and I will get into more detailed bid and visit the site.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any questions. Be happy to help from a contractors point of view.