Basic Estimating
Written by a contractor with over 25 years experience, the
basic bid estimating course gives you a solid foundation to begin the process
of winning bids. Knowing your costs and that you have covered all "bases" will
prevent last minute doubts and ensure a strategy for being competitive.
This course separates the many items of overhead, labor and materials that
go into an estimate and turns it into an easily understood complete bid.
Please understand that this is an online course only. There is no book.
Course Syllabus - Bid Estimating 101
Lesson 1: Introduction and Preparation
- Tools of the Trade - Planning and simplicity,
equipment, lighting
- Hardware - pricing books - software, computer?,
what type, applications to consider
- Software - Estimating software, sources, how
to evaluate
- Job Familiarity - Site visit, proper and complete
plans and specs, plan services, estimating services
Lesson 2: Proper Estimating Methods
- Assemblies - What an assembly is, why assemblies
are big time savers, adjusting assemblies, examples, constructing
- Repetitive Items and Scale - Labor adjustments
for repetition, economy of scale, degree of difficulty, weather,
seasons, timing, unforeseen hazards
- Specs and Plans - What to check for in the
plans and specs, penalties, pay-when-paid clauses, arbitration
clause, estimator’s log
- Organization - The correct way to do take-offs,
counting and verification, scaling, highlighting, symbols
- Management - Discrepancies, notification procedures,
dealing with distributors, dealing with the Boss, job superintendent
Lesson 3: The Take-Off
- Practical Application - This lesson will give
practical examples of a proper take-off
Lesson 4: Continuance of the Take-Off
- Practical Application - Further take-off examples
and applications
- Adjustments - Adjusting material and labor
factors
- Forms - Practical forms for your use

Look at our other online construction courses:
Project
Management - Real world PM as it is.
Bid
Strategy - Maximize winning bids, guarantee profitability.
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