Residential and commercial bidding?

[ammklq143]

Does anyone have any tips on how to bid a new residential home? Do you bid by square feet and add for out of the ordinary things? I'm new at the bidding process.

Same for commercial. Are there any general rules for bidding?

Are there software applications that are helpful?

 

[John120/240]

Residental: Say can lights, you need to build assemblies list of materials to complete the task.

can light re work can or nail on can light
bulb incandescant or CFL or Halogen
trim standard donut trim, shower trim, baffle trim or other
wire 14-2 romex or MC cable
staples
wire nuts
labor to rough in & labor to trim out
ceiling height
figure out all of the above, add in profit & overhead

RS Means has a book with standard labor rates or check out Mike Holt on this

site. There are many more experienced hands here who will chime in.

 

[GUNNING]

unit pricing

unit pricing

receptacle/device
box
22 feet of wire
3 wire nuts
staples
labor

Break it down to service, home runs, devices. Mark up questions on a pad and address separately. Don't forget tools, travel & setup times.

 

[ammklq143]

receptacle/device
box
22 feet of wire
3 wire nuts
staples
labor

Break it down to service, home runs, devices. Mark up questions on a pad and address separately. Don't forget tools, travel & setup times.

So, are you saying to figure each device with 22 feet of wire, a box, 3 wire nuts, and staples as an average for each device in the home?

 

[GUNNING]

Sure!

Sure!

If he is a local competitor, yup.

I would, on the other hand, make up usable units representing what was called for.
Be systematic, not forgetting anything and adding a cushion in what you have forgotten.

Documenting after job observations and applying them to future projects. (the uh ohs).

Don't forget permitting and administration (overhead). Get a good contract/agreement together.
If you don't get a bid ask what the price was (really was), that did get the bid from the contractor. Then ask to be invited to bid in the future. Don't be too eager to get every bid. Anyone can loose money.