If you have recently taken a client or potential client out to lunch or dinner the outcome might not have rested entirely on your sales pitch! Your choice of eating establishment may make more of an impression than you had intended. How do you know the restaurant that you took a client was a bad [...]
When estimating a project, it is important to keep notes and backup related to the estimate for references at a later point in time. On two recent occasions, a client has called with questions about an estimate that we had previously done. One estimate had been completed only a couple of weeks ago so the [...]
Here is another 9/11 related video I want to share with everyone. This one is a time lapse video of the construction of the National Memorial for Flight 93 in Stoystown, PA.
It’s hard to believe the 9/11 attacks were 10 years ago already. The other day I came across a website that has a live webcam of the construction at ground zero that I thought was interesting and wanted to share with everyone. The link is http://www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/worldtradecenter/
I had a great conversation today with a local banker. I asked him what the biggest factor for businesses not building? He said that the uncertainty with the government is crippling the businesses ability to expand. That in turn stops any further construction projects. Also new banking regulations are making it harder to find “good” [...]
An estimator does not have the typical 8-5 job. Depending on their bid schedule, they can put anywhere from 8 to 12+ hours in per day (including Saturday and Sunday if needed). I tried once to leave the construction industry and worked for a “normal” business for a while. For some unknown reason, I decided [...]
Since I am in Omaha all that I have heard about for the last 3 months is about the levee system and the swelling Missouri river. I have seen the pictures and videos. I have been affected by the road closures. So far most of the levees have held around the area. There are reinforcing [...]
A few years ago I still received the majority of plans and specifications in the paper format. Even fewer were available via an ftp site. Now it has done a 180. The great thing about the paper format was the information was neatly organized and put into a set for you. Now that things are [...]
Hard copy plans and specifications are usually organized very well. So why do architects think that since plans are in electronic format that they can throw file organization out the window? On a regular basis I look at plans and specifications for projects around the country and it amazes me how the files are clustered [...]
I was having a conversation at the plan room last week with the gentleman behind the counter. I was picking up an addendum for a project and he commented that back in the 1980’s if an addendum was issued it was like a walk of shame for the architect. Plans were more complete and addenda [...]
