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teco

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Mass north shore
Hello all,

I would like to ask if anyone would give a rough estimate on this job. I would like to see if I am about where I should be. I always work for the same companies for years so I may not up with the rest of the contracting world but I want to make sure I am not giving the trade away.
3000 amp service. Pole set 40' from pad. Two 4 inch pvc raceways from pole to pad Two 90 bends in both pipes no wiring. Pad to be 20' from building. Eight 4 inch pvc raceways from pad to building with two 90 bends in each raceway. Come up from the ground to proper sized w-p can at base of building. Out of the back of the can directly through wall into main switchgear. Receive and set into place new 3 section switchgear. Wire is 500 kcmil thwn. Water meter and main is aprox 400' away wide open area 20' high. Assume total material cost to me is 75,000.00. My total installed estimate is 122,000.00 What do ya think?
Thanks.
 
If you are having trouble estimating this job, it may be not be the job for you,

someone will have to look into this project in detail, what concerns me is you said you wanted to see if it was in line with the area, that has nothing to do with pricing a job, only your cost, of doing the project, can give you the answer.
 
Thanks for the input. I have done services like this before. It has been a few years since then, I don't know any contractors in my area who are doing 3000 amp services that often. Maybe your company does. The changes in raw materials and fuel cost have change so much I wonder if I am keeping up from a business point of view. On the other hand I don't want to adjust to much.I for one believe it is important to have a fair market price for the area of the country you do business in. I feel the up and down pricing I have seen over the years has hurt our trade enough. Anyway this is older job we did not get. Thats why I post the question. I felt the price was fair. Oh well.
 
teco said:
I for one believe it is important to have a fair market price for the area of the country you do business in... I felt the price was fair. Oh well.
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Fair (to me and I suspect to you) includes making a net profit (not just a gross profit) so that the EC can remain (successfully) in business and be there to (among other things) honor the warranty a project calls for.

Offhand, I'd say you probably got the better end of that project.

Were you able to get any price or spec info on the "successful" bid?
 
code_compliant said:
Really all that matters. ;)
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"I felt the price was fair. Oh well."


Fair is how we look at 4th grade recess, not estimates. In business accurate costing is what counts, and looking at what others charge will not relate any where near your cost. and every project has it's own set of conditions, all projects are not the same, different construction, equipment needs may differ, all these things can vary a job cost, thousands either way.
 
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Fair is how we look at 4th grade recess, not estimates. In business accurate costing is what counts, and looking at what others charge will not relate any where near your cost. and every project has it's own set of conditions, that can vary a job the cost, thousands either way.
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Agreed. I should have elaborated.


"Fair" IMHO is not the price (you as a contractor) feel comfortable with but more importantly the price you arrived at after costing your job.
 
BryanMD said:
Fair (to me and I suspect to you) includes making a net profit (not just a gross profit) so that the EC can remain (successfully) in business and be there to (among other things) honor the warranty a project calls for.

Offhand, I'd say you probably got the better end of that project.

Were you able to get any price or spec info on the "successful" bid?
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No. I asked for the successful bid number but didn't get it. I agree with your statement of fair.
Thanks
 
satcom said:
"I felt the price was fair. Oh well."


Fair is how we look at 4th grade recess, not estimates. In business accurate costing is what counts, and looking at what others charge will not relate any where near your cost. and every project has it's own set of conditions, all projects are not the same, different construction, equipment needs may differ, all these things can vary a job cost, thousands either way.
Click to expand...

Thanks,
I agree. Every project is different. We try to be as accurate as possible with our estimates. All things are taken in to account. Type of construction, material handling, night work or day, outside weather, travel and truck fees etc. Also Mark up percentages and labor units are adjusted where needed. But you can do everything right and still be wrong.
 
teco said:
But you can do everything right and still be wrong.
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I don't think so. You can do everything right and still not get the contract to do the work but that doesn't mean you were wrong.

A job like this may have been bid by at least 10 different contractors. Just because you didn't get the work doesn't mean that you didn't come in cheaper than eight of them.
 
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