Quantify North America, Inc.
Estimating and performing accurate takeoffs before embarking on a project are some of the most crucial steps in setting the stage for success.
“The biggest challenge in my business is getting clients to realize the importance of their role in understanding the scope of work before they bid the projects,” explained Kathy Case, who founded an estimating service in 2019 after 43 years in the construction industry. She started her career with a commercial tile contractor who performed complex projects spanning ceramic tile, terrazzo, marble walls and slabs, and expanded her skills after 15 years to include all flooring types. In 2009, she chose to focus on estimating. Over the next 10 years, she honed her estimating knowledge and process working for prominent flooring contractors and developed her approach. This culminated in Case establishing a company four years ago, which is currently being rebranded as Quantify North America Inc.
(www.quantifyna.com) in order to prepare for its expansion into contract services and future technology.
Case’s company serves clients throughout Canada and the U.S., including Hawaii. It provides comprehensive takeoffs for commercial construction including all types of flooring, ceramic tile floors and walls, countertops, slabs, painting, drywall, ceilings, and wall coverings.
“Because of my diverse background having installed, estimated, done project management, sales and executive management, we customize our work to our clients’ standards and have developed a package of deliverables that serve more than just the immediate need of the proposal,” she explained. “This includes the original software file, color-coded finish plans with 3D renderings for vertical applications, a list of materials and quantities, a list of clarifications, Spec-Intel CSV file (if the client uses the software), and a working documents folder in which we have culled out of the full set of documents all the pertinent drawings, specifications and addenda pages that apply to the scope of the work that we are estimating. We also created a custom app through which our clients can access through their phone or tablet the most important information for the life of the project.”
Quantify has recently added painting estimates, shop drawings, and renderings to its roster of services. It uses MeasureSquare, Safe Harbor’s Estimat-All, RFMS Measure, Calidus, Planswift, OST, and Edge for its takeoffs, customizing its approach to provide easy-to-understand output for clients.
The COVID years only intensified the need for independent estimating services, Case said. “Estimators tend to move on a two-year cycle, whether it is to another company, to another position or out of the industry. Contractors are realizing that it is easier and cost effective to hire independent estimating services rather than spending $10,000-$15,000 to recruit, plus the cost of training – and then STILL have periods of overload that stresses their estimators. By using an independent service, they have the resources available to address their changing needs. It also enables them to focus on sales and project management rather than recruiting and training estimators.”
Back in the ‘80s, when Case was a contractor, she was a member of the NTCA. But in 2022, she rejoined as an affiliate member.
“NTCA does a great job at educating the industry,” she said. “I have been blessed to have mentors throughout my career. I want to be able to pass on my knowledge.” Having worn many hats over the years, she added, “I hope that more contractors will recognize the value of having a quality, emergency resource to help them with their estimates when they are short on estimators and are at risk for missing an opportunity to bid valuable projects and disappointing a client. Because of my experience, our estimators excel at ceramic tile and stone estimates at a detail level for which ceramic tile contractors are looking.”
Inspirations for Case include attending TISE, Coverings, TSP, Starnet, FCICA, and Fuse events. “They are an opportunity to learn, to gather with existing clients, to network, to meet new clients, and to teach,” she said.
She also is an avid follower of Tony Robbins events and coaching for her own growth and for her team. Some events include Date with Destiny, Unleash the Power Within, Business Mastery and Business Mastery II, which address personal and business goal-setting, achievement and growth. In January 2023, she requested to speak as a guest at Tony Robbins’ Business Mastery program.
Case and her team get great satisfaction when they “are an integral part of our clients’ success, while at the same time solving the issue with filling the need for estimating.”
Editorial Director and Senior Writer for TileLetter and TileLetter ARTISAN
Lesley Goddin has been writing and journaling since her first diary at age 11. Her journey has taken her through a career in publishing and publicity, landing her the editor position of TileLetter and its special publications in 2006. Her goal is to educate, inspire, recognize and encourage those in the tile industry -- especially the tile and stone contractor.
