The measurements that should be provided to Pro's to help them with the bidding process ultimately depends on the type of project that you're posting. The same applies to photos. This article walks you through some examples of the measurements and photos that we recommend you provide based on certain project types.
Interior/Exterior painting/staining:
- Measurements - Measure the height and width in feet of the surface(s) that you need painted and multiply those together to get the total area. For rooms, add all of the are measurements together for each room to get the total area for that individual room. For each room, add an individual measurement item. For exterior painting, add an individual measurement item with the total surface area for each side of the home or building that needs to be painted.
- Photos - Take pictures that include all of the surface area that needs to be painted.
Fence install/repair/paint:
- Measurements- If the work is on an existing fence, measure the linear footage for each span of fence and create a measurement for each individual span. Similarly, if you need a new fence installed then measure the spans where the fence will go and add a measurement for each span. If you don't have the tools needed to take the measurements, you can use a tool such as the "Distance Calculator" tool on MapDevelopers.com (use "Satellite" view).
- Photos - Fence installation difficulty can vary based on the types of obstacles in the way and the terrain. With that being said, take pictures of each span of fence - or where the fence will be installed. Also take pictures of where the fence will be attached to the house as that can also impact the installation difficulty depending on the type of fence you're having installed.
Other project types:
For other project types not listed above, take the time to search for the measurements that Pro's typically use to work up a bid. A few keywords to consider in your searches:
- Takeoff
- Quote calculator
- Estimate calculator