How a My EstiMate takeoff works.
From plans on your desk to a quote in your inbox.
THE PROCESS.
You don't need to sign up for anything new. You don't need a lengthy onboarding meeting. And you definitely don't need another password to remember. My EstiMate is designed to make outsourcing construction takeoffs about as straightforward as it should be.
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Tell us what you need.
PDFs, photos of hand-drawn sketches, whatever format you've got, as long as they're scalable and readable. Everything's handled by email, so there's no account to set up and no upload portal to figure out.
Email your plans to My EstiMate along with a quick rundown of what you'd like measured. That might be: One particular trade, several trades, material quantities, a broader construction takeoff, quantities for quoting, quantities for ordering materials.
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We confirm scope & price.
Before starting, we'll review the information you've supplied and confirm the scope. Good plans make for better takeoffs, so drawings should ideally be clear, scalable and readable.
We'll come back by email with a price based on the job and an expected turnaround, so you know what you're in for before we start.
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We get measuring.
A real Senior Quantity Surveyor measures your plans properly, trade by trade, from earthworks through to civil works, whatever the job calls for.
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Payment.
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Payment is required before your takeoff is issued, unless you're on an approved account. Once that's sorted, your takeoff is on its way.
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Receive your takeoff.
Delivered as a detailed Excel spreadsheet, laid out by trade, ready for you to drop your own rates or costs straight in for quoting or material orders.
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Less measuring. More building.
EXCLUSIONS.
What's not included?
Straight up, so there's no surprises on the invoice.
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We don't obtain or request supplier quotations for you.
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You provide and apply your own rates/costs.
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We're measuring what's documented — not redesigning it.
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These aren't part of the standard takeoff deliverable.
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For specialist trades such as electrical, mechanical or fire, the takeoff sheet will show a lump sum only.
TURNAROUND & COMMUNICATION.
How long does it take?
Aim: approximately 48 hours for most standard takeoffs. We're not promising a two-day turnaround on a monster set of plans just because it sounds good on a website.
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Turnaround depends on:
Project size
Complexity
Scope requested
Quality/completeness of information
Current workload
When we receive your plans
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If it's likely to take longer, we'll let you know.
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All communication is by email only — no calls or texts — so everything about your job (scope, price, questions, revisions) is on record and easy to find later.
You focus on the job. We'll focus on the numbers.
Good questions, straight answers.
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Sending plans is simple—just upload your PDF plans and specifications directly through our website contact form or flick them over to us via email.
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PDF is easiest, but we also accept photos, scanned drawings, and hand-drawn sketches — as long as they're scalable and legible enough to measure off.
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That's common, especially early in a job. We'll flag anything unclear by email and confirm with you before we start, so your takeoff isn't built on guesswork.
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Right here at My EstiMate! We act as your outsourced estimating mate. You get accurate digital takeoffs without having to buy expensive software, learn complicated programs, or lock yourself into monthly platform subscriptions.
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All communication is handled by email only. It keeps a clear record of your job's scope, pricing and any changes, and means nothing gets missed.
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Yes. If you only need concrete and framing measured, say so — you're not paying for a full breakdown you don't need.
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Once payment is received, we start measuring straight away and get your takeoff back to you within the agreed turnaround.
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Your plans and project details are treated as commercially sensitive and aren't shared or reused for any other job.
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The current standard rate includes one revision/correction. Additional changes caused by revised drawings or a changed scope may require additional work and charges.
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We measure and price both residential and commercial projects, including new home builds, extensions, house renovations, bathroom updates, decks, fencing, commercial fit-outs, and trade-specific work.
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We aim to turn most standard takeoffs around within approximately 48 hours. Larger or more complex projects may take a bit longer — we'll confirm your expected turnaround before we start.