Lighting Takeoff We suggest that you perform the lighting takeoff first. It is often the first page of the drawings past the site pages. The Lighting Quote usually takes the longest to return, so by performing it first, it gives the Supply House ample time to receive completive pricing. I suggest the use of a takeoff sheet. The Electrical Solutions Takeoff Sheet is a great tool for this purpose. I start each estimate the same way every time. By creating a systematic approach to estimating, it insures that items are not left out. Start off by copying the lighting Tags, as listed on the lighting schedule, onto the takeoff sheet.…

Include your exclusions: 1. All Concrete 2. Painting and patching 3. Utility fees 4. Engineering fees In some cases, you will only be able to present a dollar amount with no exclusions. You will be bound to perform the work as indicated by the working drawings and specifications including all addendums. Summary: The following phases make up the estimate: A. Material B. Quotes C. Labor D. Sub Quotes E. Miscellaneous F. Overhead and Labor G. Submit Bid In the following chapters, you will learn the art of each of these phases. In today’s age, most successful contractors utilize the use of estimating software. We will cover the use of computer…

TIP: Over the years, no matter how good the employees are, two people will not do twice the work of one person, four people will not perform twice as much work as two people etc. Sub Quotes Often times, you will need to hire other companies to complete your scope of work. Some of examples of these times could be: A. Fire Alarm Contractor B. Security Contractor C. Cable Contractor D. Fiber Contractor E. Telephone Contractor F. Data Contractor G. Excavation, backhoe, trenching, tamping. contractor H. Crane and Operator I. Bucket Truck and Operator TIP: When a systems contractor gives you a price, sometimes it will be turnkey and other…

Labor/Man-Hours Labor/Man-Hours is the time it takes to install the material on a given project. Man-Hours are consistently the most misunderstood Part of estimating. When a project can be completed in a couple of weeks, it is easy to visualize it will take one day for this function and two days for that function, but when a project takes several months or longer it becomes much more difficult. A way to achieve this is to assign a Man-Hour to each product installed. This takes much of the guesswork out of the process. It is close to an absolute that the material to do a function will be reasonably the same…