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What It Means To Be an Electrical Estimator: The journey of defining it for yourself

By Stephen Carr | Oct 15, 2024
What It Means To Be an Electrical Estimator
What does it mean to be an estimator? When I was first asked to take a position as an electrical estimator, I had no idea what they did, other than a guess from the title. 

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What does it mean to be an estimator? When I was first asked to take a position as an electrical estimator, I had no idea what they did, other than a guess from the title. My career at that point had consisted of seven years at an electrical wholesale house, covering positions including truck driver, warehouseman, will-call counter, price clerk and assistant purchasing agent. I had also completed two years as the assistant purchasing agent for a very large commercial-industrial electrical contractor. I knew electrical material very well. I also had a pretty good idea of how most of those materials were installed.

The basics

Before taking the job, I asked the recruiter (my future boss) what types of tasks I would undertake. He told me I would be reading blueprints and performing takeoffs. My next question was, what is a takeoff? He explained that I would be counting and measuring symbols on the blueprints. When I let him know that I did not know how to do that, he told me that with my knowledge of electrical materials, I would learn quickly. I accepted the position. Of course, it didn’t hurt that it came with a big increase in wages.

For the next six months, I counted symbols and measured lines. That is what it meant to be an estimator at that time. It was not boring, as I challenged myself to get faster while remaining accurate. We used a computer estimating system, so I did not learn what to do with an estimate after the counts were finished. Unfortunately, that job only lasted six months, as the owner shut down the business and moved to Arizona.

A major leap

My next job was a bit of a shock. I had to estimate without a computer, which meant I needed to learn all the steps after the takeoff was done. When the boss noticed my deficiencies, he sent me to electrical estimating classes and he taught me himself. He also had me work with vendors for quotations. 

For material pricing, I used the same Trade Service’s Biddle Book I had used as a price clerk at the wholesale house. By the end of my first year, I felt like a complete estimator. I was estimating and winning profitable work. I was also working on larger and more complex projects. My definition of what it meant to be an electrical estimator had changed.

The definition changed again in the next year, as my boss purchased an estimating system based on a personal computer, the Apple II. Now I was a complete electrical estimator who could use a computer system to increase my accuracy and speed. Well, maybe not entirely complete, as I only knew commercial work up to about $500,000.

Adding leadership to the definition

My next job helped expand my experience, as I started working on multimillion-dollar projects, including high-end commercial, industrial and historic building remodels. As we added more estimators, I eventually became chief estimator. 

Looking back, I was not ready for this position. As an estimator, I was ready. As a manager, I was not. As an employee who didn’t have enough confidence to disagree with my boss, I was not. I let him talk me into some changes to my estimates I was not happy about, and the projects ended up breaking even instead of making money. The same boss told me, “If I can’t make money as an electrical contractor, I might as well put the money in treasury bills.” 

I left that company unhappy. I thought I could have done better in dealing with the boss, and I learned not to put bosses on a pedestal. They’re human and can make mistakes. Estimating included more responsibilities than just an accurate estimate.

Competent and confident

My past experiences made me a better estimator in my last position as an employee. I was very competent in my estimating abilities, and more confident in my people skills. The next seven years were very successful.

So, what does it mean to be an estimator? First, it depends on your current position, including your experience, education and job title. And, as in my experience, the definition can evolve over time. 

Being an estimator means several things to me now. I am responsible for delivering accurate, competitive estimates. I am responsible for communicating my concerns, questions and strategies for each estimate. I am responsible for learning more about my trade. I am responsible for keeping up with the changes in the electrical industry. I’ll update you if this definition evolves.

stock.adobe.com / Cienpies Design

About The Author

CARR has been in the electrical construction business since 1971. He started Carr Consulting Services—which provides electrical estimating and educational services—in 1994. Contact him at 805.523.1575 or [email protected], and read his blog at electricalestimator.wordpress.com.

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