Estimating Book

Ken@K&R

Anyone know of a good pricing book? I have seen Means, the national electrical estimator and others. Just woundering if anyone may be better then another. I have a large commercial job to bid and was just wanting to check over prices before I submit it. Thanks in advance.

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Ken

Ken@K&R

Anyone?

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Ken

Speedy Petey

I have National and have never actually used it. WAY to complex and difficult to learn.
I'm sure if I took the time to learn it it would be a big help. I just don't do much commercial new work to justify learning it.

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MKE-POWER

Try, National Electrical Estimator
Craftsman book company.
Use it and cross reference with Means for those applications not mentioned.
Mark

Ken@K&R

Yeah I understand that. I got almost every demo version of estimating software. After all that I still use a plan wheel and do my own takeoffs. I was just looking for the best option for maybe a sqft price so I had something to compair my estimate too. This will be our biggest job to date 15,000 Sf. As they say the more you stand to make the more you stand to loose. I would just like to make sure I still have my truck after the last day on the jobsite or the 3 of us wont be eating PB&J 3 times a day for the next 6 months.

Thank's for the info

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Ken

Speedy Petey

I do some commercial but nothing new from the ground up yet on my own.

I have done almost every aspect of commercial though. New to remodel. Conveyor systems and motor controls to restraunts to stores to catering halls.
Problem is I never had to estimate or price them. It would scare me to have to bid my first. Commercial aint no house!
I feel your pain.

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Ken@K&R

May I be so bold to ask how long you been contracting for yourself. We have only started working on our own about 8 months ago. The largest project so far has been about $25,000. This one is going to be $60,000 - $75,000. Still not a large job but enough to kinda make me second guess myself. I know we have to take the plung at some point but kinda thinking maybe not this time. Although it is just a furny store so this may be the best shot. Not really tons of electric but major creditibility factor.

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Ken

Speedy Petey

Only about a year and a half. After 16+ years in the field I took the plunge.
I almost did 8 years ago but got an offer from someone I couldn't refuse. (Don't worry. It was legal.) I DO regret not doing it sooner.

I've been licensed on my own for about ten years now. Just so I could do services in my local village and city. And with the expectation of going out at any time.

I do mostly residential. New construction is not as big as reno work around here. Housing is SOOO inflated that everyone is building up or out as opposed to selling up.
I do have several commercial customers and do some service work and commercial renovation.

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Ken@K&R

I'm glad to here everything is working out. I have a problem with residential work in this area. You don't need any license for $25,000 or less of any kind of construction work. The $25,000 leaves mostly residential work. So everyone with a hammer and pair of dykes does it. No training or experiance needed. That can mean serious headachs by the end of a day. Although I have seen very creative uses for lamp cord that I would have never thought could have worked. I have 35 house to wire in the next 3 years along with this commercial building. Both would be going at the same time. Thats why im getting a bit parrioned about this. I think I may turn down this commercial building for a bit less stress and paronia.

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Ken

RobertWilber

I agree that the most important thing about bidding is to make sure you make money...
I use Means to some degree, but more for general info and ideas than anything else.
the numbers never work, though some of their labor factors are pretty good!
I just take the job and grind it up into little components that I am familiar with and can evaluate, then add it all up.
Remember to make allowance for project size [critical!] and access/maintenance of existing equipment/etc
Keep in mind, you have probably done all this before, or something close to it, maybe just not all together at once.
Look at it like that, and don't be confused and tempted to underbid by the "big project" lure
The first big job I did on my own was a church, but, aside from the service, it was nothing more than a bunch of receptacle and lighting circuits...