Stop Estimating
From Scratch.
Install The Skill.
The complete AI estimating system for Claude — built by a 21-year custom home builder. Install it, feed it your plans, and produce accurate, construction-specific estimates in under 30 minutes.
Get The Skill — $99You're still doing this the hard way.
Every new project starts the same: a blank spreadsheet, a pile of plans, and hours of your week gone before you've priced a single line.
Hours Disappear Into Takeoffs
Every new project eats 8–20 hours just to produce one estimate, and half the projects never close.
Estimating Feels Like a Dark Art
You've cobbled together your process over years, and every estimate still feels like starting from a blank page hoping you didn't miss something big.
Missed Line Items Kill Margin
You forget the dump fees, the temp power, the in-between tasks — and those "small" misses compound into five-figure losses by closeout.
You're the Bottleneck
Every estimate funnels through you because no one else on the team can be trusted to build one from scratch. Converting jobs into production slows to a crawl.
Everything you need to run your first AI estimate today.
Claude AI Estimating Skill
The exact skill file that powers the system. Install it in Claude and start producing estimates the same day.
Pricing Workbook & Cost Code Set
The foundation your AI needs to price projects your way: a structured pricing workbook and complete cost code set ready to plug in.
Built by a Builder
Designed and tested by a 21-year custom home builder and remodeler who built the system from the ground up — not a tech company guessing at construction.
Four steps. That's it.
Step 01
Install the Skill
Upload the skill file to Claude. Takes 30 seconds. No coding, no configuration.
Step 02
Update & Load Your Pricing
Update and load your cost codes and pricing workbook. The skill uses your numbers, not generic defaults.
Step 03
Feed It Your Project
Upload plans, describe the scope, or paste your project notes. The skill walks you through what it needs.
Step 04
Review & Send
Get a complete estimate you can review line-by-line, adjust, and send to the client with confidence.
Real output. Real data. Real project.
This is what the skill actually produces — not a mockup, not a demo.
Complete Estimate Output
The skill ships with 36 default cost groups and 168 cost items — your starting structure. You can customize from there.
Every line item includes a cost code, scope description written in your voice, quantities, units, and pricing. The skill references the drawings when available — not generic AI filler.
| Cost Group | Item | Qty | Unit | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Fees | 1.01 Insurance | 1 | Lot | $2,000 |
| General Req. | 2.01 Project Manager | 1,300 | Hr | $110,500 |
| General Req. | 2.02 Site Supervision | 1,820 | Hr | $136,500 |
| Site Req. | 3.04 Washroom Facilities | 1 | Lot | $3,100 |
| Demolition | 4.01 Demolition | 1 | Lot | $28,000 |
| Disposal | 5.01 Regular Garbage | 16 | Pce | $12,000 |
| Waterproofing | 9.01 Interior | 200 | LF | $15,000 |
| Flatwork | 10.01 Flatwork | 1,400 | SF | $19,600 |
| Structural Steel | 11.01 Structural Steel | 1 | Lot | $10,000 |
| Framing | 12.01 Framing | 2,348 | SF | $105,660 |
The Cost Index That Powers It
Every cost item has a defined scope, a cost range, a calculation type, and drawing cues that tell the skill what to look for in the plans.
The index covers everything from professional fees through final cleaning — with detailed scope notes, pitfall warnings, and sequencing dependencies baked in.
You update the unit costs to match your market. The structure and intelligence stay constant.
| Group | Item | COG | Unit | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Fees | 1.01 Insurance | Trade | Allow. | $500–$3K |
| Professional Fees | 1.02 Architectural | Trade | Allow. | $15K–$60K |
| General Req. | 2.01 Project Mgr | Labor | Hr | 10–30 hr/wk |
| Site Req. | 3.04 Washroom | Trade | Allow. | $2.5K–$4K |
| Waterproofing | 9.01 Interior | Trade | LF | $65–$85/LF |
| Foundation | 7.03 Poured Walls | Trade | SF | $18–$28/SF |
| Framing | 12.01 Framing | Trade | SF | $35–$55/SF |
| HVAC | 17.01 HVAC | Trade | Allow. | $19K–$50K+ |
| Plumbing | 18.02 Fixtures | Trade | Each | Per fixture |
| Electrical | 19.03 Rough/Finish | Trade | SF | ~$8.50/SF |
This isn't a blank template. It's a complete system.
The skill ships with deep construction intelligence already built in — not just a list of cost codes.
6 Scope Writing Styles
The skill matches the writing style to the type of work — the same way you'd write it by hand.
Straightforward
One sentence per item. Clean, direct. Professional fees, general requirements, disposal.
Cost Sections
Floor-by-floor breakdowns organized by location. Demolition, framing, electrical, tile.
Assembly
Layer-by-layer build-up sequences. Foundations, flatwork, waterproofing, underpinning.
Product Schedules
Fixture-by-fixture with allowances. Plumbing fixtures, tile, millwork, countertops, appliances.
Trade Sections
Organized by system, not location. HVAC, masonry, exterior cladding, drywall, painting.
Hybrids
Location-based + product detail. Insulation, electrical, structural steel.
6 Calculation Types
Every cost item is tagged with how it should be calculated — so the math is always right.
Volume
Cubic yards × unit rate. Excavation, footings, flatwork. Includes swell factors.
Area
Square feet × $/SF. Foundation walls, drywall, flooring, tile, painting.
Recipe
Multi-component build-ups. Washroom facilities, site protection, excavation breakdowns.
Count
Units × $/each. Garbage bins, window wells, plumbing fixtures, interior doors.
System
Trade lump sums. HVAC, plumbing rough-in, electrical service.
Labor
Hours × $/hr. Project management, supervision, general labor.
Is this for you?
This skill was built for residential remodelers and custom home builders who are tired of estimating the hard way. No garbage estimates. Just a system that protects your margin and frees up your week.
- A custom home builder or remodeler
- Spending 10+ hours a week building estimates from scratch
- Curious about AI but skeptical it can handle construction complexity
- Tired of being the only person in your company who can produce a reliable number
Built by a builder. Not a tech company.
Hi, I'm Bryan Kaplan.
I help remodelers, contractors, and custom home builders just like you improve your business and bottom-line profitability. Whether you're just getting started or ready to scale, I can help.
I was a professional carpenter, remodeler, custom home builder, and entrepreneur for over 21+ years in residential construction. I left the client side of the business in 2018 on a mission to help residential construction business owners like you get the training, systems, and processes in place to thrive.
Today, I'm building AI-native tools specifically for builders — and this skill is the core of that system.
Questions?
Stop estimating from scratch. Install the skill.
One purchase. One install. Accurate estimates in under 30 minutes — starting today.
Get The Skill — $99© 2026 Construction Consulting