Commercial job index

Status
Not open for further replies.
E

elvis_931

Senior Member
Location
Tennessee
I know this topic has probably been brought up already at some point, but I have not had much luck finding any info doing a search of the site. I am looking for any information on how to find out about and bid some of the commercial jobs that I see going up everywhere. Obviously it is too late to bid once you see them start building, but that is usually the only way I know that there is even a project to bid(once its too late). I know a lot of these jobs are invitation only type things, but surely there are ways to find out about planned and upcoming projects before its too late to bid on them; right? Any help is greatly appreciated.:)
 
Dodge Report

Dodge Report

Contractors, find out about the dodge report and plan rooms here.

www.thecontractorsgroup.com/dodge-report.html
 
What kind of commercial work are you looking for?

Strip mall build-outs? New buildings, such as retail/schools/hospitals?

Mebbe military or gubbamint work?
 
All of the above! Banks, warehouses, convenience stores, schools, office buildings, strip malls, etc. I just need to know how to find them before its too late to bid on them and construction has already started.
 
elvis_931 said:
I know this topic has probably been brought up already at some point, but I have not had much luck finding any info doing a search of the site. I am looking for any information on how to find out about and bid some of the commercial jobs that I see going up everywhere. Obviously it is too late to bid once you see them start building, but that is usually the only way I know that there is even a project to bid(once its too late). I know a lot of these jobs are invitation only type things, but surely there are ways to find out about planned and upcoming projects before its too late to bid on them; right? Any help is greatly appreciated.:)
Click to expand...

The market is really really tight to be getting into now. When their is a glut of work it is a better time to get your feet wet in the commercial competitive market. You will find lots of GCs out there not that will eat you out of house and home to keep afloat. You have to have the disclpline to keep perfect records and the guts to claim your change orders. Now, you might be forced to take work on someone elses terms. Be prepared! Go forth and prosper!!
 
A better idea might be to just show up at the offices of some of the GC's you see doing the type of work you'd like to be involved with, and seeing who you can get to talk with.

Have you given any thought at all on how you're going to staff this sort of work? That's the big obstacle for me, most times.
 
mdshunk said:
Have you given any thought at all on how you're going to staff this sort of work? That's the big obstacle for me, most times.
Click to expand...

My sentiments as well. Unless you already have a large crew of well-seasoned pipe benders, it's gonna be tough to do a school or hospital, let alone a nuclear facility or airport. A steady diet of strip malls can keep a 4-man shop hopping.
 
mdshunk said:
A better idea might be to just show up at the offices of some of the GC's you see doing the type of work you'd like to be involved with, and seeing who you can get to talk with.

That is a good idea.

Have you given any thought at all on how you're going to staff this sort of work? That's the big obstacle for me, most times.
Click to expand...

Yes. I have a pretty good crew that I can handle most of these jobs. I do commercial work already, but it is usually whatever I happen to stumble into at the bidding stage. I want to be able to seek out these jobs instead of waiting to stumble on to them.
 
elvis_931 said:
I want to be able to seek out these jobs instead of waiting to stumble on to them.
Click to expand...
Good, then go start meeting commercial GC's. Start with local ones, unless you really like driving a zillion miles for work.
 
elvis_931 said:
Yes. I have a pretty good crew that I can handle most of these jobs. I do commercial work already, but it is usually whatever I happen to stumble into at the bidding stage. I want to be able to seek out these jobs instead of waiting to stumble on to them.
Click to expand...

Call the generals you have worked for or bid with on a weekly basis and ask them if they have anything they want you to take a look at. Remind them you did this project with them or gave them a number on that project. Call generals that have there signs posted on other projects in the area to introduce yourself and tell them you saw their sign on 123 and ask if they have anything for you to look at.When you get something to look at call the architec and ask them for the bid list on that project. Call the other generals on the bid list and tell them your bidding xyz and ask if they want you to shoot them your number. Call them all back for feed back on your number. Call them next week and remind them you bid xyz and ask them if they have anything they want you to look at. "Hi is Fred there? Hey Fred, steve from Bradley Electric, we did the 579 bel air with you, have anything for me to take a look at?" Always be pleasant to the person that answers the phone. They are the person that is going to put the call through. Be confident. Fred wants to talk to you. Network with other subs weither it is an other electrician friend, or a flooring guy. Have you done anything for Fred? How is he to work with? Hows he pay? Unless the other electrician is a very good friend, take what he says with a grain of salt. Plumbers are much better sorces of info.

www.bidclerk.com Hi I saw you are on abc Rosedale. Can I take a look at that for you?
 
I like http://www.isqft.com a lot better than dodge reports. It lists projects that can be sorted by type, county, city, state, size and even even by GC. Each job on the site lists all the plans, specifications, addendum's, meeting dates, and even other contractor that are listed for each project.

I get quite a few invites off the site every day, and after looking in my email box I have 10 invites just from yesterday.

The biggest issue for me is printing and saving plans. isqft uses a drawing format called CPC, which I was not crazy about at first but after having used it for a while now I love it. It's compact, clear and scalable. If you prefer PDF, its not hard to convert but, CPC prints a lot faster than pdf.

It is possible veiw plans and even do an on screen take off but I prefer paper, so printing is a big issue for me.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top