I give up; I need an estimating service

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LarryFine

LarryFine

Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
Location
Henrico County, VA
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
I may have some talents, but estimating isn't one of them. I'd like to say that I'll beat the best estimate by 5%, but I don't think most contracting companies would appreciate that, so I'm ready to concede.

Has anyone here ever hired an electrical estimating service? I have the plans on CD that I'm supposed to bid on, but my brain isn't up to the task. I have no idea how much these services cost. $100? $10,000?

I don't even have the patience to search for such services. Anyone here interested in the job of turning plans into a parts'n'materials list and a man-hours calculation? (Forum rules probably prohibit solicitations anyway.)

I would appreciate any advice.
 
I have a friend that does it. He was a chief estimator for a huge ec/telco company years ago and now him and 2 others do strictly estimating and consulting. I have never used anything but advice from him, and a resource every now and then. He's pretty sharp
 
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LarryFine said:
Anyone here interested in the job of turning plans into a parts'n'materials list and a man-hours calculation? (Forum rules probably prohibit solicitations anyway.)
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I don't think this is out of line.

That's not to say you're not luring some questionable characters out of the woodwork, but until they emerge, I say you're peachy keen. I consider myself a junior, however. ;)

If someone has somebody they use, they should just spit it out - we can always deal with something inappropriate when the need arises, IMO.

The question is, do you trust a stranger? How would it work?
 
I have done estimating for others...BUT...I limit it guys I actually know ~ ones that can punch me in the nose if I lose them money ;) So far, haven't gotten beaten up, so I must be doing "ok" for them....then again, I ONLY provide a material and labor hour, their hourly rate is thier business.

I charge these guys a percentage of the job...smaller jobs have a higher percent cost. The largest I've done is only about 50k this way.
 
georgestolz said:
That's not to say you're not luring some questionable characters out of the woodwork, but until they emerge,
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LMAO...

You posted that as I was typing.
 
celtic said:
BUT...I limit it guys I actually know ~ ones that can punch me in the nose if I lose them money ;) So far, haven't gotten beaten up, so I must be doing "ok" for them....
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Celtic,
You owe me a monitor & keyboard cleaning from laughing so hard.:grin: :wink:
 
celtic said:
LOL

Just doing my job sir :D
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And doing it very well :grin: I haven't laughed that hard all week. Been working on a used van I bought to replace the POS :mad: I have been driving/working out of the last couple of years
 
Bob Kraemer said:
..... I haven't laughed that hard all week. Been working on a used van I bought to replace the POS :mad: I have been driving/working out of the last couple of years
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I hear ya Bob!

I feel the need to buy 2 vehicles....one for me:
Charger_300_Convertible_400.jpg


...with enough room for the kids and still look "cool" enough for me to drop 'em off at school...

....and then something to do work out of ....I love pick-up trucks for work, but a van(mini or full size) does have it merits....

...I just don't want to make ANY payments
 
celtic said:
One payment(cash)....out the door...see ya later :cool:
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Same here :cool:
The cool car thing brought back some memories. Back around 68 or 70 I remember saying to my parents "bout time you bought a cool car" it was a burgundy colored barracuda.
 
Larry,

Hire Celtic to do the estimating...if there is a problem, i am close enough to, for a small fee, go steal his pocket protector:D
 
emahler said:
Larry,

Hire Celtic to do the estimating...if there is a problem, i am close enough to, for a small fee, go steal his pocket protector:D
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LOL ....you better swing first before grabbing at my pocket protector ...and even then you might get hit in the back of the head with a henweigh or something as you haul-butt outta here :D
 
celtic said:
LOL ....you better swing first before grabbing at my pocket protector ...and even then you might get hit in the back of the head with a henweigh or something as you haul-butt outta here :D
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What's a henweigh?












(about 3 pounds :D)
 
emahler said:
What's a henweigh?












(about 3 pounds :D)
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LOL .


I was walking past some guy bending some 3/4" EMT today (not one of my guys) ....I casually remarked "They other way..."....the guy stopped, looked at me, looked at the bender, and flipped the pipe around....LMAO - I have no idea what bend he was trying to make, but I know he screwed that one up :grin:
 
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