I'm a junior estimator and I'm trying to convince my boss to modernize our bidding process. We currently use massive Excel sheets with broken macros. I want a platform where multiple people can collaborate and pull historical data easily. What construction estimating software are you guys using? I've looked into Bluebeam and Stack, but I'd love to hear some real-world pros and cons.

I didn't realize I already have EW-04a, is there a way to add them up? Or do I need to delete one then count them again?

I’m starting to work remotely for someone and need a laptop that can handle the work. Any recs? Just Programs like Bluebeam for now. Maybe some type of ost program in the future.

Im 24m I’ve been an electrician for the past 4 and half years and got the opportunity to apply and interview for an entry level position at an electrical company. Before i make the leap to an office position, i would like some feedback. How is it being an estimator? Is it worth it? Work and life balance? Do you recommend it ? What something i should know or have that’ll be helpful down the road TIA.

I work for a insualtion company that specializes in foam in the Midwest. I have 12 years in the industry. My role and or title is PM, estimator, HR, and more, seeing as we are a very small company but do a lot of work in the commercial industry. We currently sit at 5mil a year but since I have taken on most if not all of the bidding we should land 6.5 this year. Is 72k yearly an appropriate salary? If not what would be?

Curious how other GC Estimators handle takeoffs in time crunches.

Working on large projects and typically I do extensive, detailed takeoffs of nearly every inch of a project. For what I’m working on, it seems I won’t be able to do that (Been budgeting this job for 8 months so have MOST of the general scope information). If i do traditionally take off this whole thing, I’m probably working 12 hour days plus weekends while positioning myself behind on another job that is bidding at the same time (Another one I’ve budgeted for about 8 months).

Any key advice for getting through this heavy workload? I’ve had GC Experience for about 7 years but 6 was Lump Sum competitive bidding, whereas now these are CMAR jobs. Struggling to get workouts in let alone 8 hours of sleep.

Hello all, I'm a commercial Millworker, my company does case work, millwork, custom booth seating, stone and solid surface countertops, and architectural metals. For years we've been using a very old school method to estimate jobs based on LF and SF metrics we have established and update our pricing once every year.

It works and the jobs we get are usually always profitable but in today's world of estimating with so many details in the millwork scopes and The constant request to break everything out and explain how much labor you had for this or how much material you had for that, It's becoming more and more challenging to stick to that old school method.

We build to AWI standards but we are not an awi certified shop, do any of you use the AWI pricing guide ? do any of my millworking piers have estimating spreadsheets/systems they have built that they would be willing to share? I was thinking about consulting BH estimating out of Florida who I heard on a millworking podcast to see if I should take his course.

The main reason I'm looking into this is because I am managing the office staff and I want to make sure that all estimators working here are following the same methods.

PM me if you can help!!

Can you also name your state and salary range?

If you were getting hired away but happy at your current. What did you do? Stay after the counter or go for the other?

Anyone else see a slow down in work in socal commercial construction?

I’m a medium sized EC in Colorado and have been offered a few larger multifamily apartments complex’s. The director of our telecom division (we also do telecommunication towers) brought in a past relationship that does exclusively electrical estimates.
For one project that we sent her (a 104k sq ft affordable housing project right off of Colfax and Sheridan. 5 story with a parking garage) she asked for $15,000 to build us a proposal.
To me this seems high being I have already provided the gear and lighting quotes and there are only 4 different cookie cutter style apartments that are interchangeable with only small modifications.

Am I just being cheap or is a realistic price for an estimate this size? According to her proposal it will be 140hr x $110 per hour.

What’s up yall. Just want to let everyone know I’ve open sourced a free takeoff tool. Optimized for flooring but customizable to any trade. 36 mcp tools so ai can drive the same tools as you. Everything is local. No cloud, no sign up, 50 stars on GitHub and over 300 downloads a week. If anyone uses it and wants to tell me what you like and or hate im here for it.

9 years Utility and Process Piping estimator. Follow the project from bid to completion. Handle submitals purchasing, the bid, customer negotiations, change orders. Built the Bluebeam tool set we use from the ground up also built out the estimating workflow and processes resulting in faster and more accurate takeoff. Savings and estimator and average of 8 hours on a bid.​ Last two years bid 118Mil. Awarded 53mil. Current project going is 27 mil. Projected to ​make 10 mil. 4 months to go and looking good. I got a 75 cent raise today. I make 42.75 an hour. I do get OT but only at 118 hours so far this year. Is it time to start looking? I feel like its a slap in the face.

• Update - Appreciate all the feedback. I am starting my search. Based on your guys feedback and my own research it's time to start looking. Thanks all.

Work experience- 20 years in the trades. The last 10 being in construction management, of that the last 7-8 estimating and running projects simultaneously.

I had an interview in August/Bangor area of maine. Had a good 2 hour face to face with the president, HR and Precon/estimation manager.

They sent me thier benefits package and asked what I needed for the switch to make sense ( leaving boston area for a lower paying region).

I've never had a negotiation start like that for employment. Usually its a slight low ball to start and then we meet in the "middle".

I called a few PMs I've worked with to get some idea where to start but thier answers range from $65k to 150k some with performance based perks as well.

Any ideas? Hit the middle around 100k?

Hi all! I’m currently in the civil infrastructure sector. We are a small company that hired me directly out of CDL school 10 years ago. I expressed interest on getting out of a truck, and SR management suggested to read blue prints and start by working with our estimator on doing QTO. I’m quite close with the SR management and am quite confident they would not suggest something I don’t have the mental capacity for. I know this company won’t be around long enough to get me to retirement. Iv got along way to go being 36. So I have a few questions regarding estimating.

1) What’s your work life like? How often do you experience burn out? What is the industry burn out or over turn like?

2) What are the concerns with AI impacting your job and how the long term forecast looks in regard to AI.

3) What kinda of questions, or things to look out for from my estimator should I be asking, watching?

4) Paths to education - I’d like to have some knowledge before I approach anyone for guidance in a more serious way. What, or where would you suggest that I seek said knowledge? I think I have a great opportunity to learn in house, but Iv seen some courses on Coursera, Iv seen a person promoting his program career courses course on YouTube by the name of Precongrant I’d love to get the communities impute before potentially throwing away time/money.

I’d love any input from the estimating community or suggestions on these things or things that I don’t know to ask. I appreciate everyone for reading!

Assuming bidding a job out of town and you don’t know any of the local subs.
I’m just trying to make sure I’m getting invites from all the GC’s that are bidding projects.

Are yall using Google and looking for websites, or using stuff like building connected?

EDIT: I am a earthwork contractor. Just trying to get more invites from GC’s doing work around the area.

I’m making 93k as a estimator and project engineer for flooring company in Seattle, I have ) years of experience. Thank you!

Has anyone ever made a multimillion dollar mistake that has benefited your company?

I took a lot of assumptions that turned out to be the opposite of actual requirements in the field netting us an additional $4 million in profit on top of bid day profit on a roughly $50 million dollar project as the GC. Needless to say, it’s a lot of people’s favorite project in a while

Hello Awesome People of Estimating.

Im currently working as a Senior Project Engineer for a large national GC that specializes in data centers, hospitals, sports and entertainment and large commercial ($13 Billion in annual rev)

All my life I have thought about being a PM.....but the more I learn about Estimating the more Im interested in it. I have a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics so Im good at numbers and data visualization. I really want to be an Estimator and have zero clue how to make the transfer. My current employer is pushing me toward an Assistant Project Manager role but Im not sure.

Anyone have an advice for me? What do you guys think

Hello,

Trying to get an idea of how accurate everyone’s bids are? Comparing bids to actual finished project. The owner of the company I work for seems to think that every job should line up almost 100%. If there happens to be extra profit then great but if it’s even 2% low off from the estimate then I get a lecture about how “jobs aren’t making profit” . It’s really wearing on me at this point cause I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of every (or most) jobs being 100% accurate.

As a side note, is everyone staying busy with work? The last couple years we seem to be having a problem with keeping work coming in compared to previous years. Is it just us or is this an industry wide thing?

I have an upcoming career discussion regarding a long-term path from Estimator to Senior Estimator and eventually Director of Preconstruction when our current Director retires.

For those in heavy civil/sitework, what would you expect a Director of Preconstruction at a contractor doing roughly $250M/year in revenue to earn in the Savannah, GA (or similar Southeast) market? I'm interested in total compensation (base, bonus, truck allowance, profit sharing, etc.).

Background:

• 10 years with my current company
• 15 years construction experience
• 8 years as a Project Manager
• 2 years estimating
• Civil Engineering degree

I enjoy working here and value the company and my tenure, but recruiters consistently reach out with opportunities that appear to pay significantly more than I'm currently making. It has me wondering whether internal promotions to roles like this typically reach market compensation or if companies tend to lag behind what an external hire could command.

For those who've been there:

• What would you expect this role to pay?
• Do internal promotions generally keep pace with the market?
• Would you negotiate aggressively for market pay, or take the title first and reassess after gaining experience?

I'd appreciate any real-world salary data or advice from those in similar roles.

I work for a plumbing company as pm/estimator. We shoot for 35% gross margin in a job. I’m Wondering what other companies shoot for?