Preparing for the Estimate

Organize. Create a job folder in which to put your bid notes, job information sheet, take-off worksheets, bill-of-material worksheets, quote sheets, summary sheet, and other papers associated with the estimate. You should do this for the traditional paper records, and create a matching electronic one on your computer. If you find yourself doing a large volume of estimates it's critical to leverage software to streamline the process. There are numerous software packages available that allow you to keep all your information in one place from start to finish.

Estimate Record Worksheet. This form contains pertinent job information, such as job name, job location and address, telephone numbers, names of the owner, general contractor, architect, engineer, and to whom the bid is to be submitted. This worksheet can be kept on paper, a spreadsheet, or in estimating software.

Once you have completed the Estimate Record Worksheet, keep it handy for future reference (for example, hang a paper one up on the wall or create a desktop shortcut for an electronic one). This information will be useful when working on your estimate and creating a bid proposal.

The above content is extracted from Mike Holt's Electrical Estimating Program.

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Mike Holt is an author, businessman, educator, speaker, publisher and National Electrical Code® expert. He has written hundreds of electrical training books and articles, founded three successful businesses, and has taught thousands of electrical code seminars across the US and internationally. His company, Mike Holt Enterprises, has been serving the electrical industry for over 40 years, creating and publishing books, DVDs, online training and curriculum support for electrical trainers, students, organizations, and electrical professionals. 

Mike has devoted his career to studying and understanding the National Electrical Code and finding the easiest, most direct way to share that knowledge with others. He has taught over 1,000 classes on over 40 different electrical-related subjects to tens of thousands of students. His knowledge of the subject matter, coupled with his dynamic and animated teaching style, has made him sought after from companies like Generac, IAEI, IBEW, ICBO, NECA, and Fortune 500 companies such as IBM, Boeing, Motorola, and AT&T. He is a contributing Editor for Electrical Construction and Maintenance Magazine (EC&M) and formerly Construction Editor to Electrical Design and Installation Magazine (EDI). His articles have been seen in CEE News, Electrical Contractor (EC) International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI News), The Electrical Distributor (TED) and Power Quality Magazine (PQ).