I'm looking for a website for contractors (electrical) that you pay for a subscription, monthly/yearly that helps you with estimating jobs. My friend is a mechanic, and there's a website that he subscribes to that tells him how many hours a job will take, and how to troubleshoot and fix problems. Any website out there like this? Thank you for your help.
Looking for a certain website
- Thread starter zappy
- Start date
- Status
GUNNING
Senior Member
- Location
- Gainesville, Florida
Buying a bigger truck tomorrow.
Buying a bigger truck tomorrow.
Ill do it for you!
There was a little old lady that, under duress, entered the oldest profession. At the end of the day her husband ask her how much she made. She replied $49.10. He was enraged! He asked her who gave her the 10 cents. Her reply, Everyone.
I want you to charge everyone 10 cents for everything.
Then go out and buy a bigger truck so that you can make the loss up on volume.
OR, start cataloging what you are charging for given tasks and itemizing your overhead and payroll and supplies and then you will know how much things cost. When you get those numbers down, don't forget to add profit.
There are estimators out there. There are supply houses that will do takeoffs. There are books on standardized labor rates. You get one person that lays down on the job and those numbers go out the door. What you need are fair pricing, good contracts, and really good help. You can do standardized pricing on new construction if its all the same but get one job on the 10 floor without parking and your jammed. Thats where the contracts come in. Contingencies.
If it were easy anyone could do it. We are not selling widgets, we are selling VALUE.
Buying a bigger truck tomorrow.
Ill do it for you!
There was a little old lady that, under duress, entered the oldest profession. At the end of the day her husband ask her how much she made. She replied $49.10. He was enraged! He asked her who gave her the 10 cents. Her reply, Everyone.
I want you to charge everyone 10 cents for everything.
Then go out and buy a bigger truck so that you can make the loss up on volume.
OR, start cataloging what you are charging for given tasks and itemizing your overhead and payroll and supplies and then you will know how much things cost. When you get those numbers down, don't forget to add profit.
There are estimators out there. There are supply houses that will do takeoffs. There are books on standardized labor rates. You get one person that lays down on the job and those numbers go out the door. What you need are fair pricing, good contracts, and really good help. You can do standardized pricing on new construction if its all the same but get one job on the 10 floor without parking and your jammed. Thats where the contracts come in. Contingencies.
If it were easy anyone could do it. We are not selling widgets, we are selling VALUE.
wirenut1972
Member
- Location
- chicago
www.candels-consulting.com
I just used this guy to do a take off because I didn't have the time.
I should get the take off back next week. See that goes......
I just used this guy to do a take off because I didn't have the time.
I should get the take off back next week. See that goes......
One bad estimate can run you out of business.
I have worked for several large companies in my lifetime where the owner would check every estimate himself prior to letting it go, and I firmly believe that is necessary. Its hard enough to get the work, do the work, chase down money, and pay all the things you need to stay in business. Outsourcing an entire estimate does not seem viable to me. If you do not know your costs, I don't believe that you can function at a level sufficient enough to stay in business. -just my own stupid opinion
I have worked for several large companies in my lifetime where the owner would check every estimate himself prior to letting it go, and I firmly believe that is necessary. Its hard enough to get the work, do the work, chase down money, and pay all the things you need to stay in business. Outsourcing an entire estimate does not seem viable to me. If you do not know your costs, I don't believe that you can function at a level sufficient enough to stay in business. -just my own stupid opinion
hardworkingstiff
Senior Member
- Location
- Wilmington, NC
I'm too much of a control freak to let someone else do an estimate. That's why I will always be an electrician for hire instead of an electrical contractor.
wirenut1972
Member
- Location
- chicago
Yup, I'm just trying this guy out. I was planning on checking his work for sure. He charged 1000 bucks on about 500,000 dollar job. Takes it off on accubid, gives me all the break downs. With all those low numbers out there, who even knows.
From what I understand he'll meet up with me on logmein123 go over the take off and prints. He said he'll spend some time with me and show me what he had in it..............who knows. He just gives you labor units and material lists.
I didn't have time last few weeks anyway. It?s due the end of next week, I?m set up for a meeting Tuesday plug in all my numbers from the supplier, throw some salt over my shoulder?
From what I understand he'll meet up with me on logmein123 go over the take off and prints. He said he'll spend some time with me and show me what he had in it..............who knows. He just gives you labor units and material lists.
I didn't have time last few weeks anyway. It?s due the end of next week, I?m set up for a meeting Tuesday plug in all my numbers from the supplier, throw some salt over my shoulder?
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