Are Takeoffs Lying To You?
What if your estimates were as precise, consistent, and scalable as your measurements? Now they can be.
AI takeoffs solved the measuring problem but estimating still breaks in translation. Turning property measurements into 20+ service line items through Excel or gut feel introduces risk, inconsistency, and delays. This State of AI Takeoffs report uncovers the structural flaws in that workflow and how to replace it with logic-driven systems.
The Gap Between Measurement and Pricing
87% of companies still rely on manual entry after takeoffs, breaking the link between takeoff outputs and estimating inputs.
This is majorly due to you using disconnected tools. The CRMs, spreadsheets, and takeoffs don’t talk to each other.
Step 1
Takeoffs Generated (Accurate)
• High-resolution aerial imagery
• Measured polygons by layer
Step 2
Manual Translation Begins (Precision Loss)
• Estimators break 7 layers into 20+ service items using gut feel
• This guesstimating leads to inaccuracies
Step 3
Data Moved Into Excel or CRM (Duplicate Work)
• Measurements manually re-entered
• Spreadsheet versions vary by user
Step 4
Production Rates Applied (Inconsistent Application)
• The same production rates applied to multiple type of properties that require different rates due to difference in geography, market trends, difficulty of service, and other such factors.
Step 5
Proposal Finalized (Confidence Missing)
• Numbers don’t trace back to takeoff
• Margin assumptions unclear
What's Inside the Report
Manual Overrides Persist
Why 87% of landscaping companies still rely on manual adjustments even after using AI-powered takeoffs
From Accuracy to Chaos
Why accurate measurements turn into inconsistent estimates and how to fix it
$150K Thumb rule mistake
How one bad formula in a spreadsheet erased $150,000 in margin for a $90M company
Where Bids Break in the workflow
A visual breakdown of the takeoff-to-estimate workflow and the exact point where most bids go sideways
Fast ≠ Better
What we learned after mapping millions of acres and why measuring faster doesn't mean estimating better
Production Rate Pitfalls
The real reason production rates break down across property types and what scalable companies are doing instead
CRMs Can’t Fix It
Why your current CRM can't solve this problem and how to make it part of the solution without switching platforms
Guesswork Still Lurks
The 5 signs your estimates are still guesswork, even if your takeoffs are 97% accurate
Customer testimonials
Discover how SiteRecon has transformed the way our clients approach landscaping estimates, boosting their confidence and efficiency.
FAQs
Yes, the report is free to download. Just direct insight from what we’ve learned working with hundreds of landscaping companies.
This is for owners, estimators, and sales leaders at commercial landscaping companies doing $5M–$50M in revenue, especially if you're using AI takeoffs and still struggling with pricing accuracy.
Absolutely. Whether you're using SiteRecon or another platform for AI takeoffs, this report focuses on what happens after the takeoff and how to get estimating right.
The report is concise and actionable. You can finish it in under 15 minutes and walk away with a clear roadmap.
It breaks down the critical gap between takeoffs and estimates, where most workflows fail, and shows how to close it with systems that scale. You'll see what’s broken, why it matters, and how to fix it.
Yes, it will be, because we’re talking about a system to fix the broken link between measurement and estimates, no matter how you’re currently measuring properties. Whether you're using Google Earth, or any other tool, the core issue remains the same: translating raw measurements into accurate, consistent pricing. The insights in this report will help you spot where your estimating process might be leaking margin and how to fix it with systems that scale.
The Takeoff Was Just the Start. Now it’s time to fix what happens next.
If you’re serious about eliminating guesswork from estimating and turning speed into confidence this report is your next move.
It’s free, actionable, and designed for leaders who want to confidently price right, every single time.