bidding Jobs

[jmellc]

I'm a little guy. I get lots of bid invitations from a free Blue Book listing. Most I discard, as I get them only a week or so before bid is due, or job is too far away. I have bid a few that were doable, have gotten none of the jobs. My computer won't do decent size prints from online plan rooms, so I have to print them at Kinko's or order prints, check out permit costs in various nearby cities, etc. These are often small retail spots in malls, etc. Work I do well and like doing. But the bidding process is so tedious and somewhat costly, I'm not sure it's worth doing. I don't have anyone else to help on this. Guys I pull in for help sometimes are not experienced at this either.

Anyone else thinking this way?

 

[mcclary's electrical]

I'm a little guy. I get lots of bid invitations from a free Blue Book listing. Most I discard, as I get them only a week or so before bid is due, or job is too far away. I have bid a few that were doable, have gotten none of the jobs. My computer won't do decent size prints from online plan rooms, so I have to print them at Kinko's or order prints, check out permit costs in various nearby cities, etc. These are often small retail spots in malls, etc. Work I do well and like doing. But the bidding process is so tedious and somewhat costly, I'm not sure it's worth doing. I don't have anyone else to help on this. Guys I pull in for help sometimes are not experienced at this either.

Anyone else thinking this way?

I notice the same thing. I don't know why they wait until one week until closing date to ask for a bid,,,,but they do. It happens so often, I think they do it in hopes that you miss something. I have spent an entire weekend 2 days straight bidding a job that often you don't get.

 

[480sparky]

I notice the same thing. I don't know why they wait until one week until closing date to ask for a bid,,,,but they do. It happens so often, I think they do it in hopes that you miss something. I have spent an entire weekend 2 days straight bidding a job that often you don't get.

X2. I've gotten invitations to bid 15 minutes before closing.

I've also gotten "all the documents you need to bid" faxed to me. Image: full-size prints shrunk down to 8?x11, then faxed. I end up with sheets of paper with lines, dots, squares and circles on them. Then the wonder why they never got a bid.

I think most of them are bid shopping. They're already received bids, so they have a price that they can work with.... they're just trying to find someone who is cheaper so they can pocket the difference.

 

[LarryFine]

I think most of them are bid shopping. They're already received bids, so they have a price that they can work with.... they're just trying to find someone who is cheaper so they can pocket the difference.

I do the same thing shopping for materials once I've won a job based on my original prices.

Does that make me evil?

 

[mcclary's electrical]

X2. I've gotten invitations to bid 15 minutes before closing.

I've also gotten "all the documents you need to bid" faxed to me. Image: full-size prints shrunk down to 8?x11, then faxed. I end up with sheets of paper with lines, dots, squares and circles on them. Then the wonder why they never got a bid.

I think most of them are bid shopping. They're already received bids, so they have a price that they can work with.... they're just trying to find someone who is cheaper so they can pocket the difference.

I know EXACTLY what you mean! I have a lighted magnifying glass for that situation. It's a horrible way to bid.

 

[jmellc]

I did just get an ITB on an apt rennovation. I made sure I didn't have any lead paint issues and I will bid this one. Would be a good job to get.

Still cost me about $20 at Kinko's printed out on 11x17 paper. Would be about 40 on full size. Last prints I ordered cost about 28.

Wish I could figure out getting supply houses to pay me for lists for them to price.