Tips for Doing a Job Walk
Attending a Job Walk Gives You an Advantage
Before estimating a project, it is very advantageous to do a job walk.
It helps you understand the scope of work better and the better you understand job conditions and scope of work the more competitive you can be with your estimate.
It is best when have a chance to review the plans prior to doing the job walk so that you are familiar with it.
Follow these steps to be most effective on your Job Walk.
Ask Questions
If the scope of the work is not clear, ask questions!
If the scope of the work is not clear, always ask questions!
The only dumb question is one that did not get asked.
You cannot prepare a thorough electrical estimate without complete information.
Ask what is to be included by the electrical contractor and what is to be excluded or performed by others.
Here are some questions to consider asking at a job-walk:
• What’s the start date of the project?
• What is the project scheduled date of completion?
• What hours is the work to be performed?
• Is there any over time required?
• Is the owner furnishing any equipment or materials such as lighting fixtures or switch gear?
• During what hours is the work to be performed?
• Who will pay for parking costs of your or your employees' vehicles?
• Who will dispose of demolished (demo) materials?
If information is missing or unclear, ask questions and document the answers so every bidder is pricing the same scope. When an uncertainty remains, review how to write electrical bid qualifications that match the estimate and project documents.
In other words when you ask questions your competitors will hear the answers and will bid the same scope of work as you.(hopefully!)
Take complete notes
Record questions, answers, access restrictions, schedule assumptions, equipment details, and other conditions that could affect scope, labor, material, or job expenses. Review the notes before starting the estimate.
Take lots of pictures and videos
Take pictures or videos Use your phone camera or take a digital camera with you and take pictures or videos of everything.
A picture is worth a thousand words. You can refer to pictures later as you prepare your bid. Pictures could help resolve disputes in the future.
Be sure to save them in a file so you can print the pictures or reference them later.
Record panel and switchgear information
Photograph or record the equipment nameplate information for existing switchboards, panels, and power-distribution equipment associated with the bid. Record the manufacturer, model or serial number, main-breaker amp rating, voltage, interrupting rating, and available circuit-breaker space where relevant.
Lookout for Other Items - Here are some to keep in mind:
1) Are the door openings large enough to get your equipment or man lifts through? Some switchgear or transformers have really large footprints and would not fit thorough a 3'0' door opening. OOPS!
2) How high are the ceilings or roof line of the existing structure?
3) How high of lift equipment or scaffolding is necessary or what size ladders?
4) Does large switch gear have to be installed in the basement or on a floor above ground floor? If so you may have to hire equipment movers to move heavy items
Also be on the lookout for job site conditions that will impact your price.
Bring Sub Contractors to the job walk.
Bring Sub Contractors to the job walk.
If you know in advance that your bid must include concrete work or some other sub-contractor's pricing, bring your subs to the job walk so they can observe site conditions. It will allow them to bid more competitively which will keep your bid more competitive.
By making careful observation of the site conditions at the job walk you will have valuable information about project costs.
After the job walk, carry the documented scope, access conditions, equipment details, and project-specific costs into the estimate. Continue with the step-by-step electrical estimating guide, or review Red Rhino Electrical Estimating Software for a structured estimating workflow.