45 HBA members and associates turned out August 13th to learn what it takes to be a good estimator. Some of these characteristics include, accuracy, efficiency, good time management, ability to spot mistakes, good documentation, ability to read blue prints, good organization skills, ability to ask good questions, and simply being able to admit when mistakes are made. Thank you to Meek’s – The Builders Choice for sponsoring this informative education series.
Dennis Audo, an Assistant Professor in The School of Construction at Pittsburg State came to share some of his knowledge with the HBA members. Did you know that errors in arithmetic, taking wrong measurements from plans and specifications, and using the wrong wage rates for labor can cost you a lot of money? Some other common sources of error are, using incorrect units of measure, failure to visit the project site and overlooking or miscalculating haulage costs.
Dennis also shared some insightful information regarding working with spreadsheets and conversions. Do not make it harder than it should be, conversions are important, read your bid specifications, and to use simple observation in any situation are a few of the main point made by Dennis. In discussing estimating software and what kind to use, be careful in choosing, because it never works the way each individual needs it to work right out of the box.
“At the end of the day, when all is said and done, remember why you do what you do”, said Dennis, “there are many intense job situations, so try to keep things as simple as you can when you are doing your estimating.”
For those of you that missed the event or are still looking for more education on estimating, keep your eyes and ears open for other opportunities that the HBA will bring to you. If you are interested in contacting the instructor directly for any questions or other information, contact Jamie at the HBA office (881.3711).
