Masonry Magazine February 2004 Page. 34
BIDDING
THE ART OF THE BID:
ADDING
THE
HUMAN
ELEMENT
Recently, I found myself in a discussion with a colleague of mine who, like me, has for many years been employed as a construction estimator and project manager. Our talk centered on whether a good construction estimator was merely a "technician," who was simply more detailed and skilled in the nuts and bolts of compiling an estimate, or whether there was more to the picture. We both easily agreed that nothing could replace sound, technical experience and attention to detail, but then we went on to explore (what we called) certain "human intuitive qualities" that separate the good estimators from the truly great. We then attempted to identify qualities - the professional and, perhaps more important, personal traits that often separate the two levels. It was an interesting conversation, and soon it became evident that, though seldom discussed, there's clearly far more that goes into winning in the construction estimating game than good estimating alone. You also have to know how to bid.
By Steve Saucerman
32 Masonry
February 2004
www.masoncontractors.org