How do you handle PITA factors?

[~Shado~]

I do some bidding for some EC buddies when they don't have time or don't really want to mess with it.

A few things have come up in the past with difficulties in the project. So PITA came into play.

Was wanting to see how others handle these things.

- Do you just factor it as a whole on the job
- Do you break it down per phase
- Do you factor it directly on the problem...ie material, labor, customer, etc
- What have been your % averages

Since the PITA's will be different per experience...this will lend help for things to consider/look for in the future.

Examples would be awesome!!! Will be great to hear some of your issues and %'s ....

Thanks....for all input:grin:

 

[LarryFine]

Nothing specific, just add it in as additional time.

 

[shermansfather]

I do some Bank remodels, auto teller adds, man traps. All major PITA.

1. Limited day work, you need fidelity bond for night work.
2. Chock full of surprises from past jack leg jobs.
3. Coordination with security outfit, ATM outfit, safe co. is crazy, mostly jerks.

I plan worst case scenario then add 50% - 75%, works out about right.

 

[ultramegabob]

I do some Bank remodels, auto teller adds, man traps. All major PITA.

1. Limited day work, you need fidelity bond for night work.
2. Chock full of surprises from past jack leg jobs.
3. Coordination with security outfit, ATM outfit, safe co. is crazy, mostly jerks.

I plan worst case scenario then add 50% - 75%, works out about right.

Banks are a major PITA, every door is locked and you have to have an escort everywhere. Always add extra hours to make up for the time you will stand around waiting for someone with keys to be done with a customer before they can let you in somewhere.....

 

[shermansfather]

Banks are a major PITA, every door is locked and you have to have an escort everywhere. Always add extra hours to make up for the time you will stand around waiting for someone with keys to be done with a customer before they can let you in somewhere.....

For night work they'll have a dozen guys on a couple crews and 1 key. Door must be kept locked at all times so as guys go in and out you get to play "who's got the key".

 

[Sierrasparky]

price it out as you would normally and double it!:grin:

 

[Cow]

For night work they'll have a dozen guys on a couple crews and 1 key. Door must be kept locked at all times so as guys go in and out you get to play "who's got the key".

That sounds like prison work...

 

[ITO]

Jail work, tipple the labor.

University Work just make sure to do a thorough take off and dont cut any corners.

General PITA not really defined but you know from experience it will be a pain like owner furnished custom fixtures, BAS, bad GCs, bad suppers, or bad Mech subs, you just have to SWAG it. In this market I pretend not see any PITA warning signs with the exception of Jail work.

 

[macmikeman]

Hold risk mitigation meetings with estimating staff prior to bid. Go thru the project spec, use a highlighter to highlight any suspect spec. During the meeting discuss every last highlighted detail, and learn how to assign a dollar value to it. Turn every headache into dollars this way. Do not back down off the end grand total result in submitting the bid or you will loose money. All the major beltway bandit companies do their large Dept. of Defense bids this way, same procedure. When I worked for one of them thats how I learned this method.

 

[hardworkingstiff]

Just remember it's a lot more fun going broke fishing, golfing, hunting, (or whatever you like to do) than it is working for negative dollars.