Most contractors we talk to have been burned at least once by a bad estimate. A missed division, an old price list, a takeoff done in a rush the night before closing. Picking the right estimator is how you avoid that, whether the job is a condo building in Montreal, a warehouse in Laval or a plant in Longueuil.
An estimator reads the drawings, measures every item, prices the labour and materials, and hands you a number you can defend. Done right, it protects the owner as much as the contractor.
What a good estimator actually knows
Reading architectural and structural drawings is the easy part. What makes the difference is knowing what things cost in Quebec right now, which subcontractors are busy, and how the BSDQ rules affect your bid. The software matters less than the person using it. At Gestion Edem Inc., our estimators have more than 15 years on job sites and in estimating, across hundreds of projects in the province.
Questions worth asking before you hire one
- Have you priced jobs like mine? Civil, commercial, institutional, multi-residential: ask for examples.
- What files do you work from? PDF, DWG, a BIM model? You shouldn’t have to convert anything.
- What do I get at the end? Quantities only, or a full priced estimate?
- Can you meet my closing date? A great estimate delivered late is worth nothing.
- Who else do you work for? An estimator tied to a contractor or a supplier isn’t neutral.
- Do you know the BSDQ and the collective agreements? In Quebec, that’s not optional.
How a mandate usually goes
You send the drawings and specs. The estimator does the takeoff, asks suppliers and subs for prices, and puts the bid together before closing. If you want the details, see our construction estimating service and our quantity takeoff service.
What does it cost?
It depends on the size of the job. A single-family house can be a few hundred dollars. A large commercial or industrial project in Montreal or Laval can run into a few thousand. Compared to one bad bid, that’s cheap.
Gestion Edem Inc., your estimator in Quebec
We’re an independent estimating firm working on commercial, multi-residential, institutional and civil projects all over Quebec. Send us your drawings and we’ll get back to you within 48 hours with our quote, free of charge. Or just call us at 581-999-5503.
