have you guys ever done practice bids on here(for fun) for a fictional job? for instance the moderator or webmaster could give us the material breakdown for a job and we all could "bid" it like we do and see how things turn out? granted due to area differences some maybe extremely high or low incomparrison to everyone else but it still could be fun and a learning experiance for us Estimators / Electricians!

This was something we kicked around a couple years ago (!!) but never really got started.

I still don't know how feasible it is, but the idea was to make a set of plans available to interested members in a format (some form of CAD?) that could be printed out at a local printer and we could all discuss things like NEC (minimum/++) requirements, layout, takeoff and estimating options.

The idea was to do a couple of different types of buildings and layouts.

What do you all think?

Bill

As far as everyone being able to view the drawings with a free viewer, I was surprised to see that Volo View Express was no longer available from Auto Desk. However, It looks like they still offer a couple other free viewers.... Any opinions here???

I think many estimators have a standard line line I used often. " I don't need the practice anymore". It is not hard to feel that way when you bid day after day and only get maybe 10% of the jobs you bid.

On the other hand. Sure I'll play. Just don't tell me "This 150k sq/ft job bids tomorrow at noon."

Edit: I do some of my bidding from a pay fee to be on bid list company that uses On-Screen Take off as a plan viewer. But, I view the files in an OST format and don't know if other extensions can be viewed.

I do know that OST is a free download.

[This message has been edited by kentvw (edited 12-11-2004).]

Keep it simple.

If it takes too much time I won't be able to participate.........

It could cut into the time I have to post on internet message boards!

[This message has been edited by golf junkie (edited 12-11-2004).]

Oh no!
The first thing I would do is fire off an RFI with a couple dozen questions. Either that or low ball this job and qualify be bejaybers out of my proposal.

Sorry,

Residential is T&M only.

if this is a new addition, not a remodel, i think i've got a estimate done for the 3 rooms hall and exterior lighting.

Fixing some one elses junk is Time and material only. Latest job of this, I thought the company before me was decent and did good work-- Wrong. So far I have over 90 man hours in just finding what they did and did not do. Plus 15 hours installing all the switches, receptacles and luminares.
Walking the job before hand, I estimated 40 manhours tops.
Thank goodness I bid at time and marerial only.

El-Bump'O!!!


I totally forgot about this!!!!

Anyone think it might be worth trying something simple, and see what transpires?

Scott35

Personally, I do enough bidding for work to do it for fun.

Dave

We did this last year on a wed night business chat session, if there is an intrest, we can try it again, I think I still have the plans on my server, It can be set up for a wed night chat.

I've had plans sent to me via Kinko's. The sender takes the prints to Kinko's, they scan for a few bucks and send the file to any Kinko's the sender tells them to. Cost on my end was under 5 bucks for a full size print page to come out.

Basically, the original idea was to cover more aspects of the fictional project, than Estimation alone.

The concept was to discuss the project in its complexity, from "Creation To Completion", with attention paid to particular areas - such as proposals, permits, planset comprehension, installations per NEC, materials & circuitry, service equipment, trim, finals (close outs) and related.

Scenario projects were to begin with the most simplest and basic type project, then increase the details + complexity for each newer example project.

The desired results were to create a model scenario, which everyone may interact together on the same project (more correctly, the same topic), with discussions related to many different areas of the model project.

Documents may either be downloaded, viewed on-line (in separate windows) while logged-on to ECN, or both.
Downloaded document files may be printed, viewed via graphics application, or both, and discussed with ECN members through typical message postings.

I still would like to try something simple, just to see how things go.

It might become a new trend at ECN.


*** TO: "LK" ***

Would be interesting!
Wanna contact me via E-mail to discuss this further?

TIA!

Scott35