Electrical estimating is a science and embraces a large variety of types and size of jobs and projects, is a complicated business, and takes years of diversified training and experience to enable one to become familiar with all costs involved.

One should keep in mind at all times that establishing material and direct labour costs are only one part of estimating.  One should also keep in mind that, as in all other parts of estimating, those costs if not properly set up with defeat the purpose of the work.

In general, here are five tips to help you on your way:

Tip 1. Analysis of the job or project

Analysis is necessary to determine the desirability of taking on the job or project. A preliminary study of the drawings and specification usually gives the estimator a pretty good idea of the job or project as a whole, and can determine without going any further whether or not the job or project will fit the business current market niche of where you want to go.

Tip 2.  Provision of notes and records

Records of Drawings and specifications must be kept for future reference.

Drawing and specification notes are needed for propelling and checking the estimate.

Records are necessary for establishing quantities and costs.

Tip 3.  Establishing estimated quantities and costs

A systemised method of establishing quantities and costs will reveal many important items such as:

1. Material quantities and costs
2. Direct labour hours and costs
3. Overheads and operating costs

Tip 4. Providing marketing aids

Electrical estimating is seldom thought as having anything to do with marketing.

A careful study of electrical contractor’s activities shows that a properly prepared tender or quote has a great deal to do with good marketing.

It should also be stated that a tremendous amount of business has been lost to the electrical contracting industry because of the misleading methods of portraying costs.

Tip 5. Training

The electrical industry pays a heavy penalty, year in and year out, because so many people attempting electrical estimating have not been properly trained.

Electrical contractors pay a penalty for labour overruns on faulty estimates and for numerous mistakes in estimated costs.

Electrical contracting is a much-diversified industry, and is almost impossible for one to become an all-round estimator without the benefit of training received at the hands of a competent veteran in the business.

“How Much Are Electrical Estimating Errors Costing You on Your Electrical Projects?”

To find out about our SIMPLE FLEXIBLE STANDARDISED ELECTRICAL ESTIMATING
process to increase speed, minimising errors, increase in confidence and improved continual accuracy… Click the link below:

ESTILEC | ELECTRICAL ESTIMATING

 

Electrical Estimating is Essential for Electrical Contractors. One flawed estimation can put you out business.

In dealing with Electrical Estimating we look at three processes: Read More

DON’T:

• UNDERQUOTE ELECTRICAL PROJECTS

  Cutting your quote to the bone means you are taking short cuts in workplace safety including Electrical Safety that exposes you and your colleagues to risks of death, electric shock or other injury caused directly or indirectly by electricity.

Read More

If you want to build a profitable business and advance your career, you need to use methods and techniques that are VASTLY DIFFERENT than what you’re doing now.

Read More

“How Much Are Estimating Errors Costing You on Your Electrical Projects?”

Read More

Are you fed up with the Electrical Estimating and Tendering laborious process; trying to work out the right balance between being competitive, while maintaining profitable margins?

Read More

Is your electrical organisation exposing you and your colleagues to safety and environmental risks as well as risks of death, electric shock or other injury caused directly or indirectly by electricity?

Read More

Only a Select Few Electrical Contractors become Electrotechnology Businesses that Thrive and Win

What is The Electrotechnology Industry?

The electrotechnology industry impacts on almost every aspect of daily life. The technology ranges from traditional light and power, hardware platforms and networking automation to virtual enterprise, the internet and fibre optics. The spread of new information processing and communication technologies means that the industry is developing rapidly.

Read More

That’ll Allow You To Transform Your Business And Open The Floodgates To More Profit.

Read More

All businesses have cycles such as the familiar ‘bell curve’ starting as sunrise businesses; with these changing environmental conditions over-time become sunset businesses.

To keep your electrical business as a sustainable sunrise business you must have several market niches in your portfolio to counter these changing environmental conditions and need to keep looking for additional market niches with emerging technologies that keep coming at a rapid rate.

According to the Australian research company IBISWorld, the electrical services industry had faced challenging market conditions for the last few years, but improved investment into housing market & ongoing maintenance activity in commercial and industrial premises is envisioned to spur growth in the industry. Read More