Marshall And Swift Cost Service

[hastalavista]

Logic demands...

I agree.

 

[Valueseeker]

Not to hijack this thread but along this topic, what is the most affordable cost data/ manual you folks would suggest? RS Means, swift estimator?

 

[Howard Klahr]

Not to hijack this thread but along this topic, what is the most affordable cost data/ manual you folks would suggest? RS Means, swift estimator?

Is there some reason that the current thread on that topic is not sufficient?
https://appraisersforum.com/forums/...ta-service-is-best.210734/page-3#post-2745771

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

most affordable cost data/ manual

Without a doubt National Building Cost Manual...under $100, you log in the code on the back page and it loads a nice little program. I find it is as accurate as anyone's and much simpler than M & S...although the "best" program years ago was the old Boeckh Residential software that worked fantastic in my book. Also, with the book, there are things you won't find in the program. RS Means is pretty complicated in my experience and unless the residential book has simplified or added a better program, it doesn't offer much although I like their commercial book but haven't tried their online program. But Means is between $200 and $400 each, so they are much overkill unless you use it daily.

FYI - truth or heresy, but when I had someone run through my fence, the insurance adjuster came by. His company was owned by his father and covered the entire state for various insurers. In the back of his car were several manuals for insurance...same companies NBC and Means. I asked about them and he said that they were told that all these publishers collect data and analyzed it from a relatively small pool of builders, etc. He said that the collectors of the data sold to all the book companies and they, in turn, including M & S, then massaged the data accordingly. So the costs used by M & S and parsed a certain way is probably the same data Means or NBC uses only parsed differently. Whether true or not, it makes sense when as I have tried, you get similar results from the different books.

The cost problem is the same as the sales problem. What is the quality of the house. What is the condition of the house. And what all goes into "quality" makes a lot of difference in the "grade" one applies. Then, of course, Fannie mae has their own metric for "Q" and "C" and no cost book is going to follow that with any precision.

 

[Valueseeker]

Thanks guys

 

[CANative]

I use Craftsman and their online tool at www.building-cost.net.

It puts out a great report that you can put in an exhibit addendum. It also includes demolition costs.

And it's free.