Electical Contractor

There are many estimating software systems on the market, competing for your money. Accubid, ConEst, Estimation, McCormick Systems, Timberline, Vision InfoSoft—the list goes on and on.

A new week of estimating has begun, giving you another chance to beat your bid schedule. You tell yourself that this week you will take a lunch break every day and go home on time. You will not be distracted. You will make every minute count, and you will not work on Saturday.

The construction procurement process is flawed. While this is not news, what can contractors and estimators do about it? The root of the problem really starts at a project's conception.

We have a couple of items for April. One is an information update from a previous column. Another concerns new sustainable building requirements, which is very topical. It is a bit of a head's up on how these requirements may have hidden costs you might miss in a bid.

Astute, regular and faithful readers of ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR'S “Estimating” column may have noticed last month's entry wasn't written by long-time contributor Eric David.

When computer-drawn Blueprints for electrical contractors And other tradesmen first appeared, few people really understood AutoCAD or how to use it. In today's fast-paced construction industry, if you are still unsure of what CAD can do, you may find yourself losing out on some valuable contracts.

Diogenes, who wandered the streets of Athens many centuries ago, was looking for an honest man. Contractors looking for an estimator candidate face a similar situation.

There are ways to combat unethical practices It's clear that an estimator's duties are not simple, but no one should take the easy route and submit to ethical violations.

Trade shows are a great place to learn The annual rites of summer’s last gasp: the Labor Day barbecue, returning the kids to school and preparing for the NECA convention. The annual show is good opportunity for estimators to see the industry’s new products.