The Job Estimate

A 90-minute, 4-round basic Express simulation on estimating and bidding residential remodeling work, for high-school Career and Technical Education in construction management, construction technology and carpentry, pre-apprenticeship programs and courses preparing the NCCER Core credential.

Yaretzi Calloway, 19, the fictional estimator-apprentice at Quarry Oak Remodeling in San Antonio, Texas, prices three homeowner jobs due on Friday 19 March 2027 (a kitchen floor and backsplash, drywall and paint, and a tub-to-shower conversion that needs a permit) and handles a change on a job already under way.

Round by round you choose how quantities come off the plans and how labor is priced, how overhead and profit go on top, how the bathroom permit and the licensed trades go into the bid and what the bids say about hidden damage, and how to handle a change request and a client who says your price is too high; at each decision point the month is projected again with the decisions taken so far.

Each round is scored on month profit after overhead, estimate accuracy, work won, the margin on it and client trust; work with no permit and no license (2024 IRC R105.1; Texas Occupations Code 1301.351 and 1305.151) or extra work started without a signed change order (Texas Property Code 53.254) caps the score. English with Spanish.

An introductory simulation that assumes no prior knowledge of the subject, designed for undergraduate courses. It also works in vocational and high-school programmes and in onboarding sessions.