Oh, By The Way…

Full credit for this line deserves to go to my Dad. I heard it first from him many years ago.  It accurately identified the types of estimators out there then and continues to hold true today.

Estimators start out green.  The training starts with a person that has a good grasp of math, English and the ability to visualize representations of the work.  An estimator requires on the job training, not classroom experience.

Most classroom experience lacks the real component of training an estimator.  That training is the apprenticeship or mentoring with one or more experienced estimators.  Training in this manner takes between two to five years.  Less than three out of one hundred that start to learn about estimating will make it a career.

In this training, they are shown not only how to do what is required of an estimator, but the pitfalls that lead to costly mistakes.  The mentors are the secret to getting good estimators. Personally I have to thank; Don, JD, Phil, Harry, Jim, Guy and a host of others that held up their end of the bargain.  They taught me the nine secrets of estimating.

The ripe estimators are the ones that gained experience in many areas of estimating.  They are not specialists in any one discipline or project type.  They are not just conceptual estimators or elementary school estimators.  They can estimate concrete, masonry, steel and carpentry in detail.  While they may not do detailed mechanical or electrical estimating, they can make knowledgeable determinations concerning these areas.  Conversely the mechanical and electrical estimators can make informed decisions regarding the general trades.  A ripe estimator can prepare a detailed estimate from complete plans and specifications or on a design build basis.  They can prepare a budget estimate with little information and be right when the design or project is completed.

The ripe estimator knows how to read and understand labor agreements along with contracts.  They have to know how the craft workers perform and how the business operates in order to determine the costs.  The have to know scheduling, cost accounting and a host of other fields as a part of their career.

I won’t speak much of the rotten estimators.  Perhaps they missed out on the training.  Perhaps they lack diversity of experience or did not stay current with their industry.

The ripe estimators are the one that can determine the future profits of the construction industry.  They are the ones that can mentor the green estimators to carry on the important knowledge required for profitable bids and reliable budgets.