Contractor’s Estimates

Structure owners will often submit a contractor’s repair cost estimate with their appeal. Repair costs must include all repairs necessary to return the structure to its pre-damage condition. Repair costs must estimate labor and materials at prevailing market values and can’t include volunteer labor or donated/discounted materials.

The estimate must be itemized to include all:

  • Structural elements
  • Interior finish elements (when appropriate)
  • Utility and service equipment

Beware of cost estimates that:

  • Don’t reflect the fair market value of labor and materials
  • Include lump sum costs that exceed 50% of the overall repair cost
  • Incorporate contingencies
  • Include out-of-scope repair items or improvements and
  • Are not signed and dated
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Tip

For guidance on contractor’s estimates of repairs, refer to:

  • Appendix D of the SDE User Manual and Field Workbook available at https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1504291725295-a6fa57343ca6740b8cfcb4c609b599f7/SDE_3.0_User_Manual_and_Field_Workbook.pdf