Residential Construction Estimator

Job Description

Job Description

Homes by C.M. Watson

Residential Construction Estimator

Location: Fishers, IN. Local travel to project sites and vendor or subcontractor locations throughout Central Indiana is required.

Turn Complex Plans into Confident Projects.

Homes by C.M. Watson is a family-owned design-build firm specializing in luxury custom homes, extensive renovations, additions, and highly customized residential projects throughout Central Indiana. Our projects require thoughtful planning, accurate preparation, and close collaboration between design, estimating, purchasing, and production.

Our Core Values

• Do all we can to make the best customer experience possible
• Honesty & Integrity: We do what is right in every situation, communicate honestly, and complete our work with integrity.
• We Take Pride in Our Work : We stand behind our craftsmanship, support our trade partners, and take pride in every project we complete.
• Balance: We value strong performance while supporting a healthy balance between work, family, and personal life.

Homes by C.M. Watson is seeking a detail-driven Residential Construction Estimator to take ownership of the estimating process for custom homes, remodeling projects, and additions. This individual will gather subcontractor and vendor pricing, develop comprehensive project estimates, support purchasing, and help transition projects smoothly from sales and design into production.

The ideal candidate enjoys working through complex information, notices details others may miss, and takes personal pride in producing accurate work. Experience in custom residential or commercial construction is preferred because our projects involve significantly more variables than standard production building.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed estimates for custom homes, renovations, additions, kitchens, bathrooms, and other residential projects.
• Review architectural plans, specifications, selections, and scope documents.
• Complete material takeoffs and identify labor, subcontractor, equipment, and material requirements.
• Request, collect, organize, and compare bids from subcontractors and vendors.
• Clarify bid scopes and identify missing, overlapping, or inconsistent information.
• Maintain accurate pricing information and estimating documentation.
• Collaborate with ownership, design, accounting, and production teams throughout preconstruction.
• Assist with purchasing and the preparation of purchase orders.
• Identify cost risks, scope gaps, alternates, and value-engineering opportunities.
• Lead project handoff meetings from sales and estimating to the production team.
• Update estimates when designs, selections, or project scopes change.
• Develop and improve estimating systems, templates, processes, and standard operating procedures.
• Maintain organized project information within Buildertrend and other company systems.

Qualifications

• Previous estimating, preconstruction, purchasing, project management, or construction operations experience.
• Experience in custom residential construction, remodeling, or commercial construction strongly preferred.
• Ability to read and interpret architectural plans, specifications, and construction documents.
• Strong numerical, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a strong desire to produce accurate work.
• Ability to understand the overall project while also managing detailed cost information.
• Experience requesting and evaluating subcontractor and vendor proposals.
• High level of integrity, accountability, and follow-through.
• Self-motivated and willing to research unfamiliar materials, methods, or project requirements.
• Comfortable using Buildertrend, estimating software, Microsoft Excel, Office 365, and new digital tools adopted by the company. 
• Ability to manage multiple estimates and changing priorities without losing accuracy.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.

Pay and Benefits

• Full-time, W-2 Employment
• Annual salary of $70,000-$90,000 , based on estimating experience, construction knowledge, and qualifications. 
• Opportunity to take ownership of and improve the company's estimating, purchasing, and preconstruction systems. 
• Schedule: Monday through Friday, approximately 40 hours per week. Occasional additional hours may be required based on project deadlines. 
• Health insurance.
• 401(k) with company match of up to 3%.
• Three weeks of paid time off.
• Company-wide holiday (paid) break from Christmas Eve through New Year's Day.

Why Homes by C.M. Watson?

Homes by C.M. Watson offers the opportunity to estimate distinctive, challenging projects rather than repeating the same standard plans. You will work closely with company leadership and have a direct role in improving estimating, purchasing, and project handoff processes. Our team values accuracy, integrity, curiosity, and the responsible use of technology. For an estimator who enjoys solving complex construction puzzles and seeing careful planning become exceptional finished work, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution.

Homes by C.M. Watson is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.