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Preconstruction

Estimating & Take Off

Quantify work from the drawings and build a cost estimate by cost code that feeds the project budget and bid leveling.

Updated June 1, 2026Who this is for:
Estimator
Project Manager
Open in Syntecton

Estimating & Take Off is where you quantify the work from the drawings and turn those quantities into a priced estimate. The estimate, organized by cost code, informs the project budget and gives you a basis for leveling bids.

Build an estimate

1

Open Estimating & Take Off

Go to Preconstruction → Estimating & Take Off.
2

Take off quantities

Measure quantities from the plans for each item of work.
3

Apply unit costs

Assign unit costs to produce extended amounts, organized by cost code.
4

Feed the budget

Use the estimate to populate the preconstruction project budget and to sanity-check bids.

Troubleshooting

Estimate doesn’t match a bid

Differences usually trace to quantity or inclusion assumptions — compare line by line against the scope.

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