TNTSERVICES said:
There isn't anything special or traditional about estimating. You have overhead that needs to be covered, you have payroll that needs to be covered, you have growth that needs to be covered, and you have profit that needs to be made. How it is any different? Either you can cover those items or you: go bankrupt, have angry employees (or go hungry yourself), don't plan on buying anything new or to make your job better or more profitable, or you don't like to save for a rainy day or your later years.
I don't see why P&P guys think that their profession is special and the normal rules of business don't apply. It seems to me that there are better ways to make money, but you would rather take what someone gives you and complain about the pay and their expectations you will forever be miserable.
TNT, since you quoted my post in your response, i can only assume that your comments were directed at me. So I will respond, and I will attempt to type slowly and clearly.
I did not say that there is something special about estimating. That is solely your fabrication.
My estimating practices are very traditional. I estimate jobs the way my father and other mentors taught me, which skill I'm certain they learned from someone before them, and so on. I don't know what your definition of 'traditional' is, but this fits well within my definition.
"How it is any different" you ask:
Well, I am a licensed general contractor and have been since 1995, for many years before that I worked for a few very knowledgeable contractors and developers that taught me by both example and experience things that not only gave me the ability to survive in the construction industry, but also to thrive. I have been involved in the design, ESTIMATING, construction, and supervision of hundreds of commercial & residential structures in one form or another. I am including this part of my resume to qualify my expertise in job estimation.
For the last 3 1/2 years in addition to construction contracting, I have been doing property preservation work for local banks, credit unions, investors, and a few different national companies (some as a temporary vendor, and one as a full time vendor). I am including this part of my resume to show that I am by no means an expert when it comes to property preservation (despite my forum name!).
Simply put, P&P job estimation is different in that the final numbers are dictated from the time you sign on with any particular company, either as a discount percentage or a flat rate. Traditionally, I do not estimate jobs that way, do you?
As for your comment that I (remember, you addresses my post) complain about the pay or expectations of any customer that I have agreed to complete work for, what are you basing that on? I do not publicly complain about my customers, never have, never will.
Also, thank you for your concern about my financial well being, current and future, but it too is unfounded. I am doing well, current and future.
Finally, I and others frequent this forum for insight and advice regarding this relatively new and evolving profession of property preservation. Do you have any experience in this field? Do you have anything constructive to add to this forum? If so, I look forward to reading it in the future.
