GETTING STARTED
Electrical estimating is the process of predicting the cost of an electrical project before a single wire is pulled. It’s a mix of meticulous counting, mathematical forecasting, and a bit of “time on the tools” intuition.
Whether you’re bidding on a kitchen remodel or a commercial high-rise, the fundamentals remain the same.
1. Project Sourcing & Initial Screening
Don’t bid on everything. “Spraying and praying” leads to poor-quality bids and wasted overhead.
The larger and more complex a project the more important the screening process becomes. However, even for small projects it is a good practice to spend that little bit of time to ask yourself some of these questions. (Sometimes the small projects are the ones that turn out to be more hassle than they are worth).
- Find Opportunities: Use lead services (like estimate one or Aconex), government portals, or your existing network.
- The “Yes/No” Decision: Analyze the project based on your capacity, expertise, and the competition. Ask: Do we have the capacity? Is the timeline realistic? Are the documents well designed? Is the client known for paying on time?
2. Project Analysis & Site Visit
Before counting a single luminaire, you need to understand the project.
- Review Specifications: Read the “Front End” documents. Look for specific material standards, nominated products or sub-trades, and additional scopes that may not be indicated elsewhere.
- Review Drawings: Spend time reviewing the drawings before committing to tender a project. Look for the level of detail and design that has been provided and how much will need to be undertaken by you as part of the tender process. (some projects are so poorly designed they are a waste of time, regardless of the relationship with the builder/client; best to say no right from the start).
- Site Visit: If practical/possible it’s always beneficial to make a site visit. This helps you get a clearer image in your head and a “feel” for the project. it also gives you the opportunity to Check for issues that may not be apparent otherwise such as site access or existing utilities that might not be on the plans.
- Identify Risks: Look for long-lead items or items that require a large upfront purchase and complex structural requirements that could blow out the budget. This could include items such as large switchboards or generators, or design elements such as boutique architectural ceilings that make the installation of otherwise standard fittings a time-consuming mission.
- Commit: You are satisfied with your review of the project and are ready to commit to tendering the project. Let your client know that you will be tendering the project and what scope (electrical) you will pricing. And now it’s time to get started!