About the job
Job description:
Sales Estimator – Residential Design + Build
Full-Time | Onsite | Mountain View, CA
Join an award-winning, employee-owned Design + Build firm where your residential construction knowledge, estimating skills, client communication, and attention to detail directly support exceptional client experiences.
At Harrell Design + Build, we are seeking a skilled Sales Estimator to help guide clients through the early stages of their remodeling journey while developing accurate estimates, clear scopes of work, and thoughtful project proposals.
This role is ideal for someone who understands residential remodeling, enjoys working directly with clients, and can balance scope, budget, feasibility, schedule, and construction realities.
The Sales Estimator will support the front-end sales and preconstruction process by qualifying leads, gathering project information, defining scope, preparing estimates and written specifications, presenting proposals, and supporting a smooth handoff to Production.
What You’ll Do
Client Discovery & Lead Qualification
- Meet with homeowners to understand their goals, needs, budget expectations, timeline, and project vision
- Respond to new sales inquiries and help determine project fit
- Ask thoughtful questions to identify scope, feasibility, risks, and client priorities early in the process
- Maintain consistent follow-up with prospective clients throughout the sales process
- Communicate the value of the design-build process with professionalism and confidence
Scope Development & Estimating
- Visit project sites to gather field information, take measurements, document existing conditions, and identify potential constraints
- Collaborate with clients, designers, and internal team members to define a clear and realistic scope of work
- Prepare accurate residential construction estimates, including labor, materials, trades, and related project costs
- Develop written specifications and contract details based on the agreed-upon scope of work
- Review estimates, scope assumptions, and potential risks with internal team members before presenting proposals to clients
Proposal & Contract Support
- Prepare organized proposal and contract documents for client review
- Present scope, estimate details, specifications, and project assumptions in a clear and professional manner
- Help clients understand the relationship between scope, budget, feasibility, and construction expectations
- Coordinate next steps in the sales/preconstruction process, including drawings, permits, contract writing, internal reviews, and baton meetings
- Support a professional, high-touch client experience from initial inquiry through contract signing
Team Collaboration & Production Handoff
- Partner with Design, Estimating, Consultants, and Production to keep projects aligned
- Participate in sales, preconstruction, and Production meetings to review upcoming work, schedules, risks, and client expectations
- Support smooth handoffs from sales/preconstruction into Production
- Communicate scope, assumptions, exclusions, client priorities, and project details clearly to the Production team
- Assist the Production team with scope clarifications, change order information, and client expectation questions as needed
Project Documentation & Follow-Through
- Maintain accurate project notes, follow-up items, estimates, specifications, and documentation in company systems
- Document project information from early design through project completion
- Maintain communication with the Project Manager throughout the job to support alignment with the scope of work, drawings, permits, and client expectations
- Review completed projects with the Project Manager and Department Manager to identify lessons learned and opportunities for improvement
- Support client follow-up, referrals, and long-term relationship building
What Makes You Successful in This Role
- 5+ years of experience in residential construction, remodeling, estimating, preconstruction, project coordination, or a related field preferred
- Strong understanding of residential remodeling, construction methods, materials, trades, and project sequencing
- Experience preparing detailed construction estimates with accuracy
- Ability to read, understand, and discuss plans, drawings, specifications, and construction details
- Sales experience or client-facing construction experience preferred
- Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills
- Ability to identify problems, ask good questions, and help implement practical solutions
- Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and client conversations
- Detail-oriented without losing sight of the bigger picture
- Comfortable using tools such as Microsoft Office, Excel, Word, email, BuilderTrend, CRM systems, Buildertrend, or similar platforms
- Open to learning new software, systems, processes, and procedures
- Reliable personal vehicle, valid driver’s license, and ability to attend in-person client meetings and job walks
- A portfolio of work or the ability to demonstrate residential construction knowledge during the interview process preferred
Who You Are
- A polished, professional, and client-focused construction professional
- A strong listener who can translate client goals into clear scope and estimating direction
- Practical, solutions-focused, and construction-minded
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Detail-oriented, organized, and able to follow through
- Comfortable discussing scope, budget, feasibility, and project expectations with clients
- Able to self-motivate, manage workflow, and adapt to changing priorities
- Committed to quality, professionalism, client service, and continuous improvement
- A strong representative of Harrell Design + Build and our employee-owned culture
Compensation & Benefits
Base Salary:
$75,000.00 to $95,000.00
Final compensation range to be confirmed based on experience, qualifications, and demonstrated construction/estimating knowledge.
Additional Benefits:
- Employee Stock Ownership Plan — share in company success
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Paid time off + holidays
- Mileage reimbursement
- Professional growth and development opportunities
- Opportunity to work on high-quality residential remodeling and design-build projects
Why Join Harrell Design + Build
- Employee-owned company with long-term wealth-building opportunity
- 35+ years of industry leadership and award-winning residential design-build work
- High-quality custom residential projects in the Bay Area
- Collaborative environment with experienced design, sales, estimating, and production teams
- Meaningful work that directly impacts how clients live in their homes
- Opportunity to grow within a professional, client-focused design-build company
Success in This Role Looks Like
- Helping clients feel confident, informed, and supported during the early sales and preconstruction process
- Producing accurate, thoughtful, and timely estimates
- Developing clear scopes of work and written specifications
- Supporting strong alignment between client expectations, budget, feasibility, design, and construction
- Maintaining organized documentation and consistent follow-up
- Collaborating effectively with Design, Production, and internal team members
- Contributing to a professional, client-focused, employee-owned culture
Physical Requirements
This role requires working at a computer for extended periods, reviewing plans and specifications, attending client meetings, and participating in site visits or job walks. Site visits may include walking, standing, bending, climbing stairs, navigating uneven terrain, and wearing required PPE. The role may occasionally require lifting or carrying drawings, samples, or equipment up to 25 pounds.
How to Apply
Please submit your resume and any relevant project examples, portfolio samples, or work that demonstrates your residential construction, estimating, or remodeling knowledge.
We encourage you to explore our work before applying:
www.harrelldesignbuild.com
Principals only—no recruiters please. We review applications electronically and will contact qualified candidates.
