Estimate

[bdpelectrical]

Hi everybody
wondered if anybody on here can help . I've been a self employed spark for over twenty years , done loads of domestic stuff at first then probably like a lot of us started getting bigger jobs , bigger houses , nightclubs , bars etc . Normally try and price all materials plus 20% then try and work on a day rate basis , usually try and do it this way so I don't loose out on underestimating labour prices . This works pretty well on most jobs . Alright I don't make a massive profit but it keeps me going and takes the worry out of a lot of jobs.
Anyway I've been offered a pretty big job to price but they do want a price . The job is ten small offices and a large open plan office on top of a mezzanine floor with a large showroom and boardroom below . Does anybody use an independent estimating firm or rely on software and do it them selves ?
Thanks in advance

 

[willy fixit]

Break the job down into individual tasks, work out how long each will take (in hours), add up all the hours, divide by 8 and x by daily rate - add on 10 - 20% extra for finishing off/unanticipated problems and your done!
Well thats how I do it - I put it all on a spread sheet and its easy to change - simples:wink_smile:

 

[Brightspark2]

Yes as above break it all down, that's how I do it...

But instead of a percentage for finishing off and problems I just add on extra days...

 

[MDJ]

Hi everybody
wondered if anybody on here can help . I've been a self employed spark for over twenty years , done loads of domestic stuff at first then probably like a lot of us started getting bigger jobs , bigger houses , nightclubs , bars etc . Normally try and price all materials plus 20% then try and work on a day rate basis , usually try and do it this way so I don't loose out on underestimating labour prices . This works pretty well on most jobs . Alright I don't make a massive profit but it keeps me going and takes the worry out of a lot of jobs.
Anyway I've been offered a pretty big job to price but they do want a price . The job is ten small offices and a large open plan office on top of a mezzanine floor with a large showroom and boardroom below . Does anybody use an independent estimating firm or rely on software and do it them selves ?
Thanks in advance

you can buy estimator packages, they can be quite complicated to set up but when they are they work well, I used to use the Estimator2000 package at around the turn of the century and it was okay, times have changed now though and I think you need to actually go and look at the building properly rather than use a computer program.

 

[Badged01]

Think of what you reckon it will cost you (days & materials) then double it to cover all the grief/hassle/rework you will get!

 

[jimjimjim]

Yes as above break it all down, that's how I do it...

But instead of a percentage for finishing off and problems I just add on extra days...

Yeah, that's how i do it and then as a guide i times square metre by £150 and see how my initial prices compares.

 

[willy fixit]

Yeah, that's how i do it and then as a guide i times square metre by £150 and see how my initial prices compares.

That reminds me (for domestic work) I also do a quick Google to get a ball park figure - but only after my initial calcs! - So I'm not influenced by the researched figures.

 

[bdpelectrical]

Thanks for the help guys . I'm breaking the job down room by room then containment , cable, access equipment etc . I'll keep you posted and let you know if I get the job