Best Bid Electrical Estimating Software

Creating your assembly Now that you have the quantities recorded, it is time to create an assembly. This terminology is used to describe what products are brought into the estimate to install the quantity of switches that you have counted. It can be as simple as just a device and matching plate to as elaborate as you like. My suggestion would be as follows: Single gang switch: 01. 4 x 4 Box with box supports. 02. Plaster ring 03. SPST Switch 04. Grounding strap/ wire 05. Face Plate Some people choose to stop here but it saves steps to include the following: 06. 10’ of the raceway of your choice. In this example ½” EMT 07. 4 x 4 Box 08. 4 x 4 Box Blank Plate 09. 2-Connectors 10....

Switch Takeoff The next step in the natural progression of the estimate would be to count the devices. We start with the switches to follow the order of most plans. As with all phases of estimating, there are different thought patterns to this procedure. We have found that by performing the takeoff as the plans shows, it saves steps when we win the job. Some estimators only count the total number of switches because of the time savings, and a lot of estimating software doesn’t allow you the ability to input a 3 gang switch with 2-single pole and 1-3 way. We have found that the Best Bid Electrical Estimating Software will allow you to input any combination of switches that the project includes. The takeoff We start by creating...

M=Moderate---Recessed lights installed in a lay in ceiling 9’ tall or less. C. D=Difficult---Bay fixture installed off a lift. D. E=Extreme---Custom chandeliers or large architectural lighting. E. P=Pole lights-Site Lighting Identify each fixture with its own tag of difficulty. This will speedy you up when entering your counts and adjusting labor. TIP: Don’t assume that all 2 x 4 Troffers will come with pigtails and bulbs or that recessed cans will come with hangers. Ensure that shipping costs are always included in your quote. If the part number on the lighting schedule doesn’t indicate these items, it is their chance to be low “At your expense”.

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. Later, we will discuss the use of Digital Takeoff software, like the Digi Count Takeoff Pro, that eliminates the use...

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 estimating in depth, but we feel that you should know how to estimate by pen and paper first. Out of...

Lost time F. Storage and Job trailers G. Temporary Office H. Clean up I. Bonds J. Plans K. Lifts L. Scaffolding M. Tie wire to independently suspend fixtures when needed Overhead and Profit So far, we have addressed the cost raw cost of material and labor. Once you arrive at the raw cost of a project, the next step is to add OVERHEAD. Overhead is the cost of doing business. This is covered in detail in our book entitled Steps To A Successful Business “How to start or improve your business.” The final step is to add profit and submit your bid. Submit Bid Follow all instructions to bidders. I can’t emphasize this enough. Whenever possible, clarify your scope of work in detail. Make sure you qualify as much as...

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 times it may be what is referred to as parts and smarts. In most states, you would not include tax...

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 times it may be what is referred to as parts and smarts. In most states, you would not include tax...

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 for everyone. Once the material list is established, a Man-Hour is placed by each item. For example: Material Man-Hours Extended...

Someone once pointed out to me that I spend more time on the phone teaching estimating practices and answering questions about estimating than I do almost anything else. So, it seemed like the right thing to do was to just place all of the conversations and questions in a video, so everyone could benefit from it. We decided to create this estimating class due the vast numbers of Electrical Contractors posting for Estimators in every state. After just a little research it seemed obvious that there was just not a direct path to becoming an estimator. Most companies don’t want to spend their time and money training an estimator. So now this brings us back to the time when you heard “You stay away from the water until you learn...