World Fence News

40 • JUNE 2015 • WORLD FENCE NEWS FASTENER CAPS for the fence industry ALL TYPES Snap-Caps, Tap-Caps, Kappets, Hex-Caps, Hinge Caps All colors and sizes available in small or large quantities Easy to order through PRO-DEC.COM Check us out! Looking for something? Need to know in a hurry? Use the World Fence News FenceLine product locator service! 1-800-231-0275 in the U.S. & Canada. Ten things that you may not know about construction estimating BY STEVE SAUCERMAN 1. Never ever, ever, listen to the architect's or engineer's budget esti- mate for the project. It's not widely known, but most architect cost manuals come from the largest publisher in Wonderland. 2. On bid day, immediately after your boss has hysterically burst in or out of your office for the twentieth time to critique your estimate, you're allowed, in most states, to shoot him. (Check your local laws.) 3. When doing a design/build pro- posal, it's not true that your customer will be more receptive because your proposal is printed on colored paper. 4. You will, at some time, find yourself negotiating with a "new age" type builder/realtor. You'll know they're new age be- cause they will (early in your talk and many times thereafter) describe them- selves as "Type A" personalities. When this happens to you, call me, and I'll tell you what the "A" stands for. 5. On bid day, hang around the bid letting location to see how many bidders come to the opening. If only one other bidder shows up, don't even think about jacking your bid up (at least 30 percent). This, of course, would be wrong. 6. The four (4) fittings quotes that you just received will be based on four (4) different quantities. What you may not know is, all of them are wrong. 7. If the 2 p.m. bid deadline is nearing, and you still don't have an answer to that barbed tape question, march right down to that tavern and ask the installer face-to-face. 8. When your boss (who's nev- er pulled a plan in his life) chastises you for using highlighters or colored pencils during your plan takeoffs (im- plying that a "true pro" doesn't need them), perform the following steps: a. Pick up the plan that you're working on (if less than 10 sheets, grab two sets). b. Roll the plan(s) up as tightly as possible. c. Whack him hard enough to send him through the wall into his ad- joining office. 9. The "x" percent that you add to your bid right before the bid deadline will correspond precisely with how much you will lose the bid by. 10. If the bid is due at 2 p.m., you will receive a revised materials quota- tion at 2:03 p.m. that would have low- ered your bid $20,000 (and you will lose the bid by $19,000). The above information is accord- ing to the Gospel of Steve. Steve Saucerman is a full time commercial construction estimator and project manager. Since 1976, his career has included building materi- al sales, architectural drafting, home building and design, and commercial construction project management. He has authored articles for construction trade journals and periodicals, in- cluding World Fence News. Three contractors were touring the White House on the same day. One was from New York, another from Mis- souri, and the third from Florida. At the end of the tour, the guard asked them what they did for a living. When they each replied that they were contractors, the guard said, "Hey we need one of the rear fences redone. Why don't you guys take a look at it and give me your bids." First the Florida contractor took out his tape measure and pencil, did some measuring and said, "I figure the job will run about $900 -- $400 for materials, $400 for my crew, and $100 profit for me." Next was the Missouri contractor. He also took out his tape measure and pencil, did some quick calculations and said, "Looks like I can do this job for $700 -- $300 for materials, $300 for my crew, and $100 profit for me." Finally, the guard asks the New York contractor for his bid. Without batting an eye, the contractor says, "$2,700." The guard, incredulous, looks at him and says, "You didn't even mea- sure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?" "Easy," says the contractor from New York, "$1,000 for me, $1,000 for you, and we hire the guy from Missouri."

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