Free document template
Build a multi-trade estimate around scope and allowances
Bring the trade packages into one estimate the client can follow. For a multi-trade kitchen remodel, that means identifying the reference documents, the work assigned to subcontractors and the selections still covered by allowances. This general contractor estimate template keeps those parts visible alongside your coordination work, so the discussion can focus on what each package includes and what remains to be decided.
Example document · illustrative amounts
Example: Coordinated kitchen-remodel estimate
Reference: [Estimate number; drawing and specification revisions]
From
[General contractor legal name, business address and contact]
To
[Project owner, billing contact and construction-site address]
| Description | Quantity / unit | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site protection, selective removal and debris handling within the marked kitchen boundary | 1 defined work package | $1,850.00 | $1,850.00 |
| Carpentry subcontract package for cabinet backing and specified trim | 1 subcontract scope | $2,450.00 | $2,450.00 |
| Plumbing subcontract package for agreed fixture disconnection and reconnection | 1 subcontract scope | $1,650.00 | $1,650.00 |
| Electrical subcontract package for the documented kitchen modifications | 1 subcontract scope | $2,100.00 | $2,100.00 |
| Cabinet hardware and fixture selection allowance; listed scope to be reconciled | 1 selection allowance | $900.00 | $900.00 |
| Site coordination, trade readiness reviews and client decision meetings | 18 coordination hours | $75.00 | $1,350.00 |
Total (USD): $10,300.00
Example: all packages, quantities and USD amounts are fictional and illustrate presentation, not construction pricing.
[Attach the scope schedule showing reference documents, inclusions and exclusions for each trade.]
[Identify the actual subcontract quotations used, their scope boundaries and any unresolved qualifications.]
[State which products the selection allowance covers, whether installation is elsewhere in the estimate and how differences will be reconciled.]
[Identify client-supplied items, their required decision points and the effect of late delivery.]
[List unresolved approval costs separately after checking applicability; no permit amount is assumed here.]
[Describe proposed billing stages, estimate validity, applicable tax and the process for written scope changes.]
How to use the template.
- Create a scope matrix from the project documents. Give each package a named owner, list work by others and check the interfaces, such as who opens and restores a surface for another trade.
- Compare subcontract quotations on the same scope before entering your selling prices. Add the coordination, temporary protection and disposal work that sits with your business, checking for overlaps between packages.
- Separate unchosen products into clearly bounded allowances. Record the assumed specification, what the allowance includes and how an approved selection changes the estimate.
- Walk the combined estimate with the client, resolving exclusions and outstanding decisions. Keep the document revisions and proposed billing stages with the accepted scope so later changes have a clear starting point.
Useful answers.
How can I avoid counting the same work in two trade packages?
Compare the inclusions and exclusions side by side. Surface opening, waste removal, making good and final connections often sit at an interface. Assign each responsibility once and confirm the allocation with the affected subcontractors before presenting the combined estimate.
What makes a selection allowance useful to the client?
Name the products covered and the assumptions behind them. Explain whether tax, delivery and installation sit inside that allowance or elsewhere, then describe the review and approval step when the actual selection is known.
Can Microtra use an estimate for stage billing?
Microtra can create progress invoices from estimates. Review the work and agreement for each stage before sharing an invoice PDF through your device, and retain the supporting scope and approval records.
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