job quotes

[mikey]

Any of you chaps that don't sub-contract care to share how you quote your
average res jobs? This is driving me batty. I find I spend more time dicking
around with mark-ups and estimating time (and these friggin things ALWAYS
have surprises (whathefuck is a check 100 ?!?)) than I do installing the
friggin' alarm. Do you price per point type thing or actually check the
place out and guesstimate your time? It may sound funny, but yes, I am
making money but I wish I could simplify the quote process.

 

[JoeRaisin]

(whathefuck is a check 100 ?!?))

RTFM

 

[Crash Gordon]

I have a Excel spreadsheet I use for estimates...with all my commonly used
parts in it.
I don't charge by the point because after doin this for 20+ years I know how
long it takes to do a job.
The spreadsheet will calculate everything for me and I can adjust markup
globally or by the part.

Then I just have a template for proposals in Word with most of the stuff
already in it...bada bing. On small uncomplicated jobs it takes me no more
than 10-15 minutes from estimate to faxing to client. For big jobs where I
actually have to "think" about system design...it takes longer of course.

 

[mikey]

It was a JOKE.
I didn't have to read the manual. I remembered that I had bench programmed
the board for a wireless keypad, not the basic one the client decided on.
But thanks for the hot tip, asshole.

 

[mikey]

Yah, I'm using Excel as well but you have to make sure your prices are
current, cutting & pasting is tedious, and on and on...
I bet you spend more than 15 minutes.
Funny thing is I find most of the time I can double my parts cost and I'm
pretty damn close. Even if I was low, I'd have saved all the Microsoft
tinkering time.

 

[Frank Olson]

Any of you chaps that don't sub-contract care to share how you quote your
average res jobs? This is driving me batty. I find I spend more time
dicking
around with mark-ups and estimating time (and these friggin things ALWAYS
have surprises (whathefuck is a check 100 ?!?)) than I do installing the
friggin' alarm. Do you price per point type thing or actually check the
place out and guesstimate your time? It may sound funny, but yes, I am
making money but I wish I could simplify the quote process.

There is no easy way to estimate a job. When I first got into the industry,
Chubb used a standard "price book" that included a labour and material
allowance for "cable" that was calculated by the foot. The sales guy had to
lay out the job and estimate the amount of wire it was going to take. I was
impressed with how accurate the sales guy's estimate often was. On some
jobs we lost, but with Chubb's markups (in the 80's we could still charge
$4000.00 for an install) that was rare indeed.

ISTR it was $2.22 per foot. We don't do residential except as a "favour" to
existing customers. The market's just too crazy and I postively refuse to
play "down there". Besides, I much prefer re-arranging all the sales
literature on my counter... ;-))

 

[mikey]

There is no easy way to estimate a job. When I first got into the industry,
Chubb used a standard "price book" that included a labour and material
allowance for "cable" that was calculated by the foot. The sales guy had to
lay out the job and estimate the amount of wire it was going to take. I was
impressed with how accurate the sales guy's estimate often was. On some
jobs we lost, but with Chubb's markups (in the 80's we could still charge
$4000.00 for an install) that was rare indeed.

ISTR it was $2.22 per foot. We don't do residential except as a "favour" to
existing customers. The market's just too crazy and I postively refuse to
play "down there". Besides, I much prefer re-arranging all the sales
literature on my counter... ;-))

wire BY THE FOOT?? This is amazing. Really? Never heard of that one, man you
guys really do have the best pot! Never mind how you used to do it, what can
I get NOW?

 

[Crash Gordon]

cutting and pasting what?
I import the prices from the supplier supplied price list as csv right into
excel once or twice a year.

and yep...doubling usually ends up about right...weird huh?!

 

[Frank Olson]

wire BY THE FOOT?? This is amazing. Really? Never heard of that one, man
you
guys really do have the best pot! Never mind how you used to do it, what
can
I get NOW?

We sell it by the "baggie" now... Ask for the contacts with the "extra
filler" next time... ;-))

 

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baggies is small time