[Humble Abode]

If you subscribe to The NAPP or the OutoftheBucket.com newsletters you know what I'm talking about.

It's a eight week teleconference with Brian Phillips about nailing down your estimating process.

Here's the agenda.

1. Unit Pricing
2. Production Rates
3. Variables in the estimating process
4. Measuring, Part 1
5. Measuring, Part 2
6. Estimating Unknowns
7. Pricing the Job
8. Question and Answer Session

Who else is signed up?

 

[Kennedy]

I'm in. If I get half of what I got out of a couple of the other workshops OTB offers, it will pay for itself right away. We have our interior estimating down, but always seem to flub up a few exteriors each year.

Of topic, but one thing I liked about the other workshops, it how easy you could take them and train your employees with the workbooks they come with. The Jobsite Management and Controlling Jobsite were the 2 that helped tighten things up and helped teach my foreman to take control of and lead a job (clients and apprentices) and helped our apprentices learn their responsibilities and place on a job.

 

[plainpainter]

So you guys recommend these workshops alot?

 

[Humble Abode]

I have only done one of the other workshops that Out of the Bucket offers. I have wanted to do a lot more of them but haven't had the time. This is the first teleconference I will be involved in.

 

[Kennedy]

I have gone through a few of them and gotten more out of some than others, but at the price if you pick up one thing that saves any time or tightens up something, its paid for itself. The couple that I didn't get all that much out of was due to the fact that part of our company is very tight, but if a company is lacking in certin areas there is someting to be learned from any of the ones I took.

One of the things I liked most with all of them is how they are laid out and easy to understand. I was able to take the workbooks and have a structured way to train my employees. A couple of the forms that are provided have also helped with my production teams' organization and client control in the field. Its paid for itself many times over not only in money, but added professionalism.

 

[bikerboy]

You guys are killing me. Joined NAPP on your recommendations, (and that was worthwhile) now you got me thinking about this. Do you guys have any estimating software you use, and if so why take the class?

 

[paulingrad]

sounds interesting. When is the next one?

 

[Humble Abode]

You guys are killing me. Joined NAPP on your recommendations, (and that was worthwhile) now you got me thinking about this. Do you guys have any estimating software you use, and if so why take the class?

I don't use any commercially available software to estimate. I use a set of spreadsheets I made myself.

The biggest reason I think I need help with estimating is my production rates and all of the unknowns. This is my biggest weakness when it comes to estimating.

 

[Kennedy]

I feel estimating is alot more involved than plugging numbers into a peice of software someone else created. If I learn anything that will more accurately help measure or figure unknowns on a job, it will have paid for itself after the first sold job.

 

[Dave Mac]

I think im in for this. I have watched Brian for years on these BB and he know's his stuff.

Kennedy, in the past when you have done these, do you receive the recorded version after the seession is over???

thanks
dave mac

 

[Kennedy]

Dave,

We did not get a recorded copy, but we kept any forms (editable in Word or Publisher), proceedures, and workbook in PDF for reference. The workbooks followed along perfectly with spaces to the side for notes. I just printed off the workbook before the class and took notes on the side as we went along.

I beleive today is the last day for discounted pricing if anyone is thinking about signing up.

 

[Dave Mac]

Looking forward to it I just sighned up:thumbsup: