Construction Estimator (Part-time) - 20964

Location: Latin America – Colombia preferred

Employment Type: Part-Time, approximately 20 hours/weekand

Working Hours: Part-time schedule with sufficient overlap with Los Angeles / Pacific Time for collaboration with the owner and General Contractor

The company manages complex custom home projects where accurate estimating, detailed quantity takeoffs, and thorough review of architectural plans are critical to profitability and successful project execution.

The business is currently experiencing strong project and bidding activity. However, the estimating process has become one of the company's largest operational bottlenecks.

Currently, Christopher, the owner, and his General Contractor are personally responsible for much of the estimating and bidding process. Christopher uses AI tools such as Claude to assist with initial quantity takeoffs, while the GC manually reviews architectural drawings, validates quantities, identifies discrepancies, and checks measurements.

While this process works, it is highly manual and currently consumes approximately 10–15 hours per week, often requiring work during nights and weekends.

The company is therefore looking for an experienced Construction Estimator who can take ownership of this function and build a more professional, efficient, and scalable estimating process.

This is not intended to be a junior estimating support position.

The goal is to hire someone who can eventually manage the estimating process from start to finish, allowing the owner and GC to focus on project execution, client relationships, and growing the business.

The successful candidate will review architectural drawings and project documentation, perform detailed quantity takeoffs, prepare comprehensive estimates, identify discrepancies or missing information, and help ensure bids are complete and accurate before submission.

The estimator should also bring expertise in professional construction estimating software such as PlanSwift, Sage Estimating, or comparable platforms.

The company is currently using a combination of AI-assisted takeoffs and manual processes, so there is a significant opportunity for the new hire to introduce more sophisticated tools, workflows, and best practices.

Ultimately, success means Christopher and his GC should be able to confidently hand over a new project for estimating without needing to spend hours independently recreating or double-checking the estimator's work.

End-to-End Construction Estimating

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  Take ownership of the estimating process for custom residential construction projects.

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  Review architectural drawings, plans, specifications, scopes of work, and other bid documentation.

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  Develop detailed project estimates based on the construction documents provided.

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  Prepare accurate quantity takeoffs for labor, materials, and relevant project components.

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  Organize estimates in a clear, logical, and reviewable format.

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  Ensure all relevant scopes and quantities are captured before bids are finalized.

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  Assist with preparing competitive and commercially viable project bids.

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  Maintain consistency across estimating processes and documentation.

Quantity Takeoffs

Perform detailed quantity takeoffs directly from architectural and construction drawings.

Responsibilities may include reviewing and quantifying:

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  Concrete and foundations.

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  Framing and structural components.

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  Drywall.

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  Flooring and finishes.

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  Doors and windows.

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  Roofing.

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  Exterior materials.

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  Interior finishes.

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  Fixtures and relevant equipment.

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  Other construction materials and scopes required for custom residential projects.

The estimator should be capable of independently navigating a complete set of plans and identifying the information required to develop an accurate estimate.

Plan & Drawing Review

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  Thoroughly review architectural and construction drawings.

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  Interpret dimensions, specifications, details, schedules, and notes.

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  Cross-reference information between different drawing sheets.

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  Identify inconsistencies or discrepancies within project documents.

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  Flag missing information that could materially impact pricing.

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  Recognize scopes that may have been overlooked or incorrectly quantified.

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  Communicate questions clearly to Christopher and the GC before assumptions are incorporated into an estimate.

The successful candidate should have the construction knowledge necessary to understand what they are looking at rather than simply measuring quantities from a drawing.

Estimating Software & Process Improvement

The company would like the new estimator to introduce more sophisticated estimating processes and technology.

The successful candidate should have experience using professional construction estimating software such as:

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  PlanSwift

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  Sage Estimating

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  Bluebeam

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  STACK

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  ProEst

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  On-Screen Takeoff

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  Comparable professional estimating/takeoff platforms

The estimator will be expected to:

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  Recommend appropriate estimating tools based on the company's needs.

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  Help establish efficient estimating workflows.

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  Create standardized templates where appropriate.

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  Improve the consistency and repeatability of estimates.

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  Reduce dependence on manual measurements and calculations.

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  Help build an estimating process that can scale with increased bidding volume.

AI-Assisted Estimating

The company is already experimenting with Claude and AI-assisted quantity takeoffs.

The estimator should be comfortable working in a technology-forward environment and evaluating where AI can improve efficiency without compromising accuracy.

Responsibilities may include:

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  Reviewing AI-generated takeoffs.

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  Validating AI-generated quantities against construction documents.

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  Identifying errors, omissions, or questionable assumptions.

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  Combining AI tools with professional estimating software and human judgment.

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  Helping determine where automation can safely improve the estimating workflow.

Prior experience using AI for construction estimating is beneficial but not required.

Quality Control

Accuracy is one of the most important components of this position.

The purpose of hiring an estimator is to remove workload from Christopher and the GC, not create another layer of work that requires them to independently verify every calculation.

The estimator will therefore be responsible for:

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  Thoroughly reviewing their own work before submission.

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  Validating quantities and calculations.

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  Identifying potential omissions.

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  Cross-checking estimates against drawings and specifications.

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  Maintaining organized supporting documentation.

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  Clearly documenting assumptions.

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  Flagging areas requiring clarification rather than guessing.

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  Delivering work that Christopher and the GC can confidently rely upon.

Collaboration

The estimator will work directly with the owner and the company's General Contractor.

This will require:

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  Regular communication regarding active bids.

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  Asking thoughtful questions when project information is incomplete.

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  Providing progress updates.

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  Communicating potential estimating risks early.

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  Incorporating feedback from Christopher and the GC.

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  Learning the company's construction standards and estimating preferences.

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  Building trust through consistent, accurate delivery.

Although the position is remote, the estimator should operate as an integrated member of the team rather than as an external task-based freelancer.

• Professional experience as a Construction Estimator, Quantity Surveyor, Cost Estimator, or similar role.

• Strong experience within residential construction.

• Experience estimating custom homes or complex residential construction projects strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to perform detailed construction quantity takeoffs.

• Strong ability to read and interpret architectural and construction drawings.

• Experience preparing detailed construction estimates.

• Strong understanding of construction methods, materials, sequencing, and terminology.

• Proficiency with professional estimating/takeoff software.

• Experience with platforms such as PlanSwift, Sage Estimating, Bluebeam, STACK, ProEst, On-Screen Takeoff, or comparable tools.

• Strong mathematical and analytical skills.

• High attention to detail.

• Strong quality-control mindset.

• Ability to identify discrepancies, missing information, and potential estimating risks.

• Strong written and spoken English.

• Ability to communicate effectively with U.S.-based construction professionals.

• Ability to work independently in a remote environment.

• Ability to manage multiple bids and deadlines.

• Previous experience estimating high-end or luxury custom homes.

• Experience working with U.S.-based residential contractors or builders.

• Familiarity with Los Angeles or California residential construction practices.

• Experience working with General Contractors.

• Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, or related educational background.

• Experience introducing or improving estimating systems within a construction business.

• Familiarity with AI-assisted construction workflows.

• Experience working remotely with U.S.-based construction companies.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned estimator who can operate with a high degree of independence and ownership.

Christopher is specifically looking for someone who will solve the estimating bottleneck rather than create additional management work.

The right person will:

• Take ownership of projects rather than waiting for step-by-step instructions.

• Be meticulous about accuracy.

• Understand construction drawings deeply.

• Know what questions to ask when information is missing.

• Proactively identify discrepancies.

• Be confident recommending better estimating processes.

• Be comfortable introducing tools the company may not currently use.

• Produce work that requires minimal correction or rework.

• Communicate proactively and clearly.

• Understand that estimating mistakes can materially affect project profitability.

• Be dependable and consistent with deadlines.

• Be comfortable receiving feedback from experienced construction professionals.

A candidate who requires Christopher or the GC to completely redo or verify every estimate will not be successful in this position.

Success in this role will be measured by:

Accuracy: Estimates and quantity takeoffs are complete, detailed, and reliable.

Time Savings: The current 10–15 hours per week Christopher and the GC spend on estimating is significantly reduced.

Ownership: The estimator becomes capable of managing the estimating process with minimal supervision.

Quality: Christopher and the GC can trust the estimator's work without recreating every takeoff themselves.

Speed: Estimates are completed within the required bidding timelines.

Process Improvement: The company develops a more efficient and standardized estimating workflow.

Technology Adoption: Professional estimating software and appropriate automation tools are successfully introduced into the company's process.

Communication: Questions, discrepancies, and risks are raised proactively rather than discovered after an estimate has been completed.

The estimator will first learn:

• The company's existing estimating process.

• Christopher and the GC's preferred estimating methodology.

• Current bid formats and expectations.

• Typical custom home project scopes.

• Existing use of Claude and AI-assisted takeoffs.

• Historical estimates and completed project information where available.

Once familiar with the company's approach, the estimator will begin taking greater ownership of:

• Plan review.

• Quantity takeoffs.

• Detailed estimating.

• Discrepancy identification.

• Bid preparation.

• Quality control.

Over time, the estimator should help establish a more scalable estimating system by:

• Introducing professional estimating software.

• Standardizing templates.

• Improving documentation.

• Creating repeatable workflows.

• Identifying appropriate opportunities for automation.

• Reducing the amount of manual estimating work required from Christopher and the GC.

Because estimating accuracy is critical to the success of this hire, shortlisted candidates may be asked to complete a paid practical assessment or short paid trial before the longer-term engagement begins.

This may involve providing the candidate with a real or representative set of construction drawings and asking them to complete an estimate or quantity takeoff.

The purpose is to evaluate:

• Drawing interpretation.

• Quantity takeoff accuracy.

• Estimating methodology.

• Attention to detail.

• Ability to identify discrepancies.

• Software proficiency.

• Organization and presentation.

• Communication and questions raised during the process.

The goal is to confirm that the selected estimator can genuinely take work off the team's plate rather than creating additional work that must be independently recreated or verified.

This position will initially be structured as a part-time role of approximately 20 hours per week through Somewhere's Talent on Demand model.

The expected total monthly cost discussed for the position is approximately $2,500–$3,000 USD/month.

The initial engagement is expected to begin with a 6-month term, followed by a month-to-month arrangement.

The company intends to establish a long-term relationship with the right estimator and is looking for someone who can become a trusted extension of the construction team.

Estimating is currently one of the primary constraints preventing the business from scaling.

Christopher and his GC are spending approximately 10–15 hours every week personally performing and reviewing estimates — frequently during evenings and weekends.

Bringing in an experienced estimator will allow them to redirect that time toward:

• Managing active construction projects.

• Building client relationships.

• Pursuing additional opportunities.

• Improving operations.

• Growing the company.

For the right candidate, this is an opportunity to take ownership of a mission-critical function within a growing custom home builder and have a direct, measurable impact on the company's ability to take on more projects.