Blanchard Cost Estimating

06/01/2026

📢 Team Announcement

Blanchard Cost is pleased to welcome James McDonald as our Vice President of Marketing and Business Development.

As our company continues to grow, James will play a key role in supporting client engagement, marketing initiatives, industry outreach, and long-term business development efforts across the country.

James brings a diverse background in leadership, business development, communications, education, and client relationship management. His ability to build meaningful relationships, communicate effectively, and support organizational growth makes him a valuable addition to our team.

Most importantly, James shares the values that have guided Blanchard Cost for more than 25 years: professionalism, integrity, responsiveness, and exceptional client service.

Please join us in welcoming James to the Blanchard Cost team.

05/19/2026

Accurate estimating starts long before bid day.

We’re proud to share that the Design Development estimate prepared by Blanchard Cost Estimating for the Olympia High School Multipurpose Addition project aligned with the final bid results within approximately 4%–12%.

Early-stage estimating is critical to helping owners and design teams make informed decisions, maintain budget confidence, and reduce surprises during procurement. It’s always rewarding to see careful planning and collaboration reflected in the final market response.

We appreciate the opportunity to support projects like this and value the collaboration with the entire design team throughout the process.

02/18/2026

News Flash! Blanchard Cost Estimating just released our latest technical brief: “The Architect’s Guide to Cost Structure: UniFormat vs. MasterFormat.”

It breaks down how these two systems help align your designs with real-world budgets, from big-picture systems to trade-specific details. Great read for anyone in architecture or construction!

Check it out: https://tinyurl.com/4m7zx32z

What are your biggest challenges with project costing? Drop a comment below—we’d love to hear!

01/26/2026

We’re proud to share a recent milestone from one of our major school projects: our Construction Documents (CD) estimate came in within 1% of the final bid results.

That level of accuracy doesn’t happen by chance. It reflects a disciplined, data-driven estimating process and a commitment to continually validating our work against real-world bid data.

Accurate pre-bid estimates give owners confidence, support better decision-making, and strengthen project outcomes from design through construction.

At Blanchard Cost Consulting, accuracy isn’t a talking point — it’s a benchmark we hold ourselves to.

Learn more about how we approach cost clarity:
👉 https://blanchardcost.com/

At Blanchard Cost Estimating, we go beyond numbers to become trusted partners in construction. For over 25 years, we’ve worked alongside architects, engineers, owners, government agencies, and general contractors—delivering precision, insight, and dedication at every stage. Together, we build w...

01/05/2026

This past year was a big one for Blanchard Cost Estimating — and we’re proud of what our team and partners accomplished together.

In the last 12 months, we supported dozens of projects nationwide, including:
✔️ Hospitals, clinics, and healthcare expansions
✔️ Schools, universities, and libraries
✔️ Military, USPS, and federal facilities
✔️ City, municipal, and public works buildings
✔️ Commercial renovations and industrial projects
✔️ Right-of-way parcels and eminent domain cost reports

From early conceptual estimates to final construction documents, budget reviews, and trial-ready cost reports, our mission stayed simple:
Help clients make confident decisions with clear, defensible cost data.

We’re grateful for the trust placed in us by architects, engineers, public agencies, contractors, and owners — and we’re excited to keep raising the bar in the year ahead.

More projects. More impact. Same commitment to accuracy.

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas! 🎄✝️

Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus—the greatest gift ever given—and the hope and peace He brings to the world.

I’m incredibly thankful for our family, friends, clients, and partners who have supported us throughout the year. At Blanchard Cost, we’re grateful for the trust you place in us and the relationships we’ve been blessed to build.

Wishing you a joyful Christmas filled with faith, family, and gratitude.

12/01/2025

Today marks five years since my dad, Greg Blanchard, passed away. As many of you know, Greg spent decades building a reputation for integrity, hard work, and a deep commitment to serving clients with honesty and excellence. He poured himself into running a business while raising a family, and the lessons he taught continue to shape the way we operate at Blanchard Cost Estimating today.

For those who had the privilege of knowing or working with my dad, I’d be honored if you would share a memory, a story, or something you remember about your interactions with him. Whether it’s a funny moment, a project you worked on together, or a quality that stood out to you, your stories mean more than you know.

Please feel free to comment below or share this post so more of his former clients, colleagues, and friends can contribute. Hearing your memories helps keep his legacy alive, not just for our family, but for our whole team who continues the work he started.

Thank you for helping us honor him.

— Daniel Blanchard

11/27/2025

🦃 Happy Thanksgiving from Blanchard Cost Estimating! 🍁

This time of year always reminds me how grateful I am for the people who make our work meaningful.

To our clients:
Thank you for allowing us to be part of your projects and trusting us to deliver the cost insights you rely on. We truly appreciate the opportunity to work alongside you.

To my colleagues and peers:
Thank you for the conversations, advice, encouragement, and support you’ve shared throughout the year. Your feedback and friendship mean a great deal to me.

To the Blanchard Cost team:
You’re the ones who keep this ship moving. Thank you for your hard work, long hours, willingness to grow, and commitment to excellence. I couldn’t ask for a better team. Trevor and Christa

Wishing you and your families a warm, joyful, and restful Thanksgiving.

We are thankful for each of you!

— Daniel Blanchard

08/29/2025

👏 We’re proud to share that our CEO, Daniel Blanchard, will be presenting multiple sessions at the CERT Annual Conference 2025
in Omaha on September 24–25! (https://www.certusa.org/events/cert-annual-conference-2025---omaha)

One featured session, “From Clicks to Calculations: AI in Takeoff Assemblies,” will explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the estimating process and the future of preconstruction.

We’re excited to see Blanchard Cost Estimating represented on the national stage and to contribute to shaping the future of construction estimating.

08/05/2025

Helping Infrastructure Move Forward—While Ensuring Fairness Along the Way

At Blanchard Cost Estimating, we’ve had the opportunity to support right-of-way agents and appraisal firms by preparing detailed, defensible cost reports.

Our specialized estimates help clarify the cost of site improvements, relocation, and cost-to-cure scenarios—supporting efforts to ensure just compensation for property owners when public infrastructure projects require land acquisition.

It’s rewarding to contribute to projects that reduce congestion, expand access, and support long-term growth across our communities.

💬 Let’s connect if you have a case that could benefit from solid cost documentation.

https://blanchardcost.com/contact

Views expressed are general and not specific to any case or agency.

Reach out to us for expert construction cost estimates and consulting services. We’re here to assist with your project needs.