The Estimate 31
expertise and estimate ownership will be enhanced. The
information that is obtained from the site visit will influ-
ence the bidding of the project. It is a good idea to take
pictures of the site to reference when preparing the bid.
- Even though estimators must rely on their own experi-
ence in construction, it is imperative that they create and
maintain a close liaison with the other office personnel
and field superintendents. After you have become famil-
iar with the drawings and the project manual, call a
meeting with the people who would most likely hold the
key supervisory positions if you are the successful bid-
der. Be sure to allow these people time before the meet-
ing to become familiar with the project. During this
meeting, the project should be discussed in terms of the
construction methods that could be followed, the most
desirable equipment to use, the time schedules to be fol-
lowed, and the personnel needed on the project.
- Check carefully through the general conditions and
supplementary general conditions, making a list of all
items contained in the project manual that will affect
the cost of the project.
- Send a copy of all insurance requirements for the project
to your insurance company and all bonding require-
ments for the project to your bonding company.
- The estimator may now begin the takeoff of the quantities
required. Each item must be accounted for, and the esti-
mate itself must be as thorough and complete as possible.
The items should be listed in the same manner and with
the same units of measure in which the work will be con-
structed on the job. Whenever possible, the estimate
should follow the general setup of the specifications. This
work is done on a workup sheet. As each item is estimated,
the type of equipment to be used for each phase should be
listed. The list will vary depending on the equipment
owned and what is available for rent. Prices on equipment
to be purchased or rented must be included.
- At the time the estimator is preparing the quantity takeoff
on workup sheets, the following tasks can also be ongoing:
(a) Notify subcontractors, material suppliers, and
manufacturers’ representatives that the company is
preparing a proposal for the project and ask them if
they intend to submit bids on the project.
(b) Begin to make a list of all items of overhead that
must be included in the project. This will speed up
the future pricing of these items.
- The information on the workup is carried over to the
summary sheet. Work carefully; double-check all fig-
ures. If possible, have someone go over the figures with
you. The most common error is the misplaced decimal
point. Other common errors include the following:
(a) Errors in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division.
(b) Omission of items such as materials, labor, equip-
ment, or overhead.
(c) Errors in estimating the length of time required to
complete the project.
(d) Errors in estimating construction waste.
(e) Errors in estimating quantities of materials.
(f ) Errors in transferring numbers from one sheet to
another.
(g) Adding a line to a spreadsheet and not checking to
make sure that the new line is included in the total.
(h)Errors in setting up formulas, items, assemblies,
markups, and so forth in estimating software.
(i) Using typical productivity rates and costs from esti-
mating software without adjusting them for indi-
vidual project conditions.
(j) Improper use of estimating software because the
user does not understand the limits of the software
or the inputs required by the software.
- Having priced everything, make one last call to the
architect/engineer’s office to check the number of
addenda issued to be sure that you have received them
all. Double-check the time, date, and place that bids are
being received. Double-check that all of the require-
ments for the submission of the proposal have been fol-
lowed; be sure the proposal is complete.
4–6 Site Investigation
It is often required by the contract documents that the con-
tractor visit the site and attend a pre-bid conference. The
importance of the visit and the items to be checked vary
depending on the type of the project and its location. As a
contractor expands to relatively new and unfamiliar areas, the
importance of the preliminary site investigation increases, as
does the list of items that must be checked. Examples of the
type of information that should be collected are as follows:
- Site access
- Availability of utilities (electric, water, telephone)
- Site drainage
- Transportation facilities
- Any required protection or underpinning of adjacent
property
- A rough layout of the site locating the proposed storage
trailer and equipment locations
- Subsurface soil conditions (bring a post hole digger to
check this)
- Local ordinances and regulations, and note any special
requirements (permits, licenses, barricades, fences)
- The local labor situation and local union rules
- Availability of construction equipment rentals, the type
and conditions of what is available as well as the cost
- Prices and delivery information from local material
suppliers (request proposals for the project)
- The availability of local subcontractors (note their names,
addresses, and what type of work they usually handle)
- The conditions of the roads leading to the project, low
bridges, and load limits on roads or bridges
- Housing and feeding facilities if workers must be imported
- Banking facilities
