How Are You Using Marshall And Swift?

[Elliott]

MS's cost curves dont change. I set them to local costs, along with some on line services, and nickel ads. I use them for CA and residuals.

Occasionally use the their on line estimates for commercial / multifam properties.

 

[Sid Holderly]

I list multiple sources of data including M&S (off an older book), Craftsman, building cost.net, on-line cost books, Manufacturers list price sheets. Local contractors and local flyer's from bog box stores. Several in each report) I rarely use the Marchall & Swift on-line costing program. Craftsman covers the majority of stuff I need with a little local data support. support is in the work file.
In narrative work it is listed in a spreadsheet design of my own. Each line item might have a different source of data, depending on what I deem the most relevant.

 

[Michael S]

What they mean by that is you can't copy all of their data and build your own spreadsheets/database from it. Obviously everyone inputs the data into Excel or some other software for calculations.

When I was a trainee I tried to build a spreadsheet to interpolate an exact figure for the perimeter/building area adjustment. I realized that it didn't really make much difference if I input 0.907 or 0.911 or tried to figure out that it should be exactly 0.9081234.

 

[Sid Holderly]

(Pole Building shop) - I may use a cost source or local flier for the base cost, a second cost source for the doors, the floor from local contractor(or my own calculations) and electrical from a local electrician. Most of the time these are added together and divided by the square foot for a completed value per square foot. In other instances if the appraisal is to fund the building it may be itemized completely by component. No one source cost estimates

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

I use NBC and R. S. Means. The best used to be E. H. Boeckh...RIP - MS bought them out.

 

[Meandering]

How Are You Using Marshall And Swift?

I use mine as a door stop.

That big commercial one is to keep the door closed, and the residential one is to keep the door open.

.

 

[Blueprint]

Use the free calculator at www.building-cost.net. Just as good for simple cost approach work.

ditto on this.

 

[CANative]

(Pole Building shop) - I may use a cost source or local flier for the base cost, a second cost source for the doors, the floor from local contractor(or my own calculations) and electrical from a local electrician. Most of the time these are added together and divided by the square foot for a completed value per square foot. In other instances if the appraisal is to fund the building it may be itemized completely by component. No one source cost estimates

Here are CA prices from the Board of Equalization Rural Building Cost Handbook. Are they close to the cost in your area?

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Can sent me that link a few years ago, and they are very sensible with some adjustment - Ag buildings seem to be a more uniform cost than housing. Just don't try it with every state's assessor handbooks... Arkansas last updated theirs in the 1990s...The "neighborhood adjustments" are so huge, they have distorted the market values. California books seem to be more routinely updated. Nevada uses their own but if the particular building is not found in their book, they use the California book as a substitute. Lots of states have manuals, but mostly are not available on line...and like Arkansas are woefully inadequate or outdated.

R. S. Means (Reed Construction) books are available and are good commercial books, but I prefer the easier to use NBC Books when possible. Means gives you a 30 day trial on line subscription
http://subscription.rsmeansonline.com/Registration/TrialRegistration?id=OGOG-1000

 

[CANative]

The cost handbooks are updated annually. There is a link to each updated book. The rural handbook links go back to 2001.