Masonry Magazine February 1999 Page. 10
Aiming for
by Steve S. Saucerman
It would be nice to begin this article espousing the excitement and intrigue of construction estimating... but I can't because it doesn't have any excitement or intrigue. It's just plain old hard work and most of the time is nothing more than painstaking, mechanical drudgery - engorged with numbers and fraught with pitfalls.
But estimating's not all bad nor completely void of reward. Winning the city hall project in your hometown does offer a modicum of personal satisfaction and sometimes even a small bit of recognition... that is, if you win. You won't win them all and when you lose (and you lose a lot), you 1) get over it, 2) pack up all of your hard work, and 3) move on to the next job. But, if you're in a typically competitive market, you'll likely win your share perhaps 1 in every 10 - and though this may not sound like much of a self-esteem builder right now be patient for the sporadic and periodic satisfaction derived from each small victory gradually grows and blossoms into a lasting, enduring feeling of pride and confidence in your work and abilities.
But first things first! Before such personal satisfaction is achieved, you need to master the mechanics of good estimating. So let's discuss the estimating process. Since, these days, I'm involved mostly with commercial construction, most of the following guidance is derived from, and revolves around, commercial estimating. However, the same practices, principles, and methods can be (and are) applied quite successfully to residential estimating as well.
The Process
I like to break down the estimating process into six steps:
Setup & organization
Bid invitations/information distribution
In-house estimates and "take-offs"
Receiving quotes & verifying scope of work
Data Compilation/spreadsheet summary
Presenting the result (the Bid Form)
Setup & Organization
Being in construction, you've no doubt heard that the most important part of a building is the foundation. Well, the same holds true for estimating. Thoroughness and attention to detail in the beginning will pay dividends later on down the road.
The very first thing I do when I open up a new job is to take time to actually read the plans & specs. Don't laugh - I'm not kidding. We've all worked with people (or we may sometimes even be those people) who - in the heat of the everyday business battle quickly gloss over plans or specifications, assuming comprehension simply because we've "seen jobs like this before". Now, you may get away with this once or twice, but it won't be long before mistakes happen and when they do, it can get ugly. Don't rush this step. Force yourself to find (preferably undisturbed) time to truly absorb the overall intent and scope of the project. It will save you time, needless correction, and headaches later on.
Next, open the specifications (if provided separately). Most of the time, the specification (or "spec") is organized according to CSI (Construction Specification Institute) guidelines. Begin with CSI division number 1