As an electrical estimator you are always looking for some advantage to win more projects and make more money. One way is to do a job walk.

When you do a job walk you see details that are not shown on blueprints.

How it works

When you visit a job site it is called a “job walk”. On some jobs, mostly government type jobs, a job walk is mandatory. If you do not attend they will not let you bid the job. However, most job walks are not mandatory but when you attend a job walk you can greatly increase the likelihood of winning the job.

Job walks are usually scheduled by the building owner or general contractor. Often times several trades will attend. The owner or contractor’s rep will allow you and others to ask questions about the job.

Important tip: Review the plans before the job walk. When you review the plans before the job walk you have a good idea of the overview and scope of work. You are more prepared.

If the scope of the work is not clear – ask questions to get answers. Well organized job walks have a sign in sheet that you sign. Those who sign in usually are emailed answers to all questions asked on the job walk. It’s helpful when you have all the answers to questions in writing. It helps level the playing field in that you (and everyone else) who attended will have the same information which should result in more accurate estimates for everyone. It is the time to ask questions.

Here are some questions to consider asking at a job-walk:

• What’s the start date of the project?
• What is the scheduled date of completion of project?
• What hours is the work to be performed? (Is there any required over time?)
• Is the owner furnishing any equipment or materials like switch gear or lighting fixture packages? (If so you have to provide labor only for those items.)
• Do power outages have to be done after hours? (If so you may have to pay overtime)
• Where will your employees park?
• Who will pay for vehicle parking costs?
• Who will dispose of demolished materials? Are you allowed to use their dumpsters?
• Who is responsible for concrete sawing, cutting or core drilling? Do you pay for it or the GC?
• In high rise buildings ask if the concrete contains post tension cable. If so, all penetrations through a floor will need to be x-rayed. (Ask who will pay for x-rays?)
• In high rise buildings also ask what elevators can be used to move materials.
• Ask what time you are allowed to use elevators. Sometimes you cannot move large equipment into elevators until after hours which costs you overtime.

Remember the only dumb question is the one that did not get asked!

Call us if you have questions.

888-492-5565 X 1

Remember at Hard Hat Industry Solutions, Inc we are dedicated to giving electrical contractors the information, tools, training and coaching you need to rapidly grow your business, make more money and live a life of freedom.

It all starts with your having a firm understanding of the electrical estimating.

Take lots of pictures on a job walk – A picture tells a thousand words!

When you get back to your office, print the pictures or store them in a file folder and refer to them when you do material take-off. OK this may sound dumb but I will just throw it in any way for FREE!

When you take pictures of panel name plates (or any pictures), check each picture to make sure it came out clear and legible. If you get back to your office and find out the pictures you took of panel name-plates are fuzzy you will kick yourself!

How would I know this?? Yep, I’ve done it! Of course SAFETY FIRST but if you can, open up panels and switch gear and take lots of pictures. This can give you a huge edge!

Take pictures of all job related switch gear and panel name plates. That way you will have exact information to purchase circuit breakers or stand-off hardware for circuit breakers.

What are you looking for when taking pictures of panels and switch gear?

• Look for blank spaces which allows for future circuit breaker space. You must have enough circuit space for new circuits. If there is not enough circuit breaker space for new circuits you would have to add panels for an additional cost.
• Look for circuit breakers that do not have wires terminated to them. You can remove them and install new ones in their place if needed.
• Look for stand-off hardware in switch gear for future circuit breakers. Is it there or do you need to provide it? When estimating electrical projects you get stand-off hardware priced with the circuit breakers.

Also, it will likely require a complete power shut-down to install stand-off hardware. Since shut-downs are often required to be done after hours. Make sure you include overtime hours in your estimate if you have to install it.

• Look for spare empty conduits running out of the top or bottom of the panels. When you find empty conduits, find out where they go and determine if you can use them on the project. If so, using existing conduits, especially feeder conduits, can save you a huge amount of time and money. Knowing this can give you a real competitive edge. Your bid can be more competitive than those who do not know there are spare empty conduits. Take pictures of site conditions
• Openings or door ways you would have to use to transport items through like transformers, panels or large fixture pallets.
• Inside ceilings and roof structures to determine how you would support conduit and raceways.
• Walls or concrete walls that would need core drilling or penetration. Pictures help you remember intricate details of a job. They help you estimate more accurately and more competitively.

Related: Job Walk Part 

Call us if you have questions.

888-492-5565 X 1

Remember at Hard Hat Industry Solutions, Inc we are dedicated to giving electrical contractors the information, tools, training and coaching you need to rapidly grow your business, make more money and live a life of freedom.

It all starts with your having a firm understanding of the electrical estimating.

Things to bring with you on a job walk

Below is a checklist of items to take with you on a job walk:

• Safety equipment like hard hat, safety glasses, safety face mask, bright orange or yellow safety vest, long sleeved shirt or Kevlar suit to look inside electrical panels.

• Copy of blueprints
• Pen and highlighter
• Note pad
• Screw driver and small tool kit to open electrical panels
• Measuring wheel or laser measuring device
• Camera or cell phone camera
• Tape measure
• Flash light

To sum it up

• Always do job-walks when you can.
• Review the plans before you show up.
• Take lots of pictures.
• Take lots of notes – make notes on plans.
• Ask questions. The only really dumb question is the one not asked!

Related: Job Walk Part 1 , Job Walk Part 2

Call us if you have questions.

888-492-5565 X 1

Remember at Hard Hat Industry Solutions, Inc we are dedicated to giving electrical contractors the information, tools, training and coaching you need to rapidly grow your business, make more money and live a life of freedom.

It all starts with your having a firm understanding of the electrical estimating.

Overview of Red Rhino Estimating Software / PlanSwift Integration

PlanSwift take-off software allows you to download blueprints electronically to count and measure “on screen” electronically. When items are counted or measured, PlanSwift displays a list of those items. Red Rhino Electrical Estimating Software integrates with PlanSwift, meaning, the Rhino Assembly Catalog and Rhino Product catalog will be imported into PlanSwift in order to do material take ofI

Benefits of using Red Rhino and PlanSwift

1. Quickly count or measure on your computer screen instead of on bulky blueprints.
2. Take off hundreds of feet of conduit on-screen quickly and accurately in seconds.
3. Save Money – No more paying for expensive paper blueprints.
4. Save space – No more storing tons of bulky paper blueprints.

Watch this video introduction below to learn more about Red Rhino with PlanSwift

Click image below for a 14 day free trial of PlanSwift

In PlanSwift, on a blueprint page you:

Select which items from Rhino product catalog and Rhino Assembly catalog you want to count. You click on the blueprint page to count the items. When you count, PlanSwift adds up quantities counted and leaves a symbol on the page showing that the item has been counted. When counting (Takeoff) is completed, you export those items into the correct section in the Red Rhino Estimate using the Red Rhino Integrator.

Read Part 2 Q & A here,

Call us if you have questions.

888-492-5565 X 1

Remember at Hard Hat Industry Solutions, Inc we are dedicated to giving electrical contractors the information, tools, training and coaching you need to rapidly grow your business, make more money and live a life of freedom.

It all starts with your having a firm understanding of the electrical estimating.