Would like to see what methods folks use to keep track of pricing and costs for when your working on a bid.
Sure, we job cost, but your working on a bid deadline and need to see what you concrete pumper charges per yard and trip, or how much a case of caulk runs, or how much the current concrete price is for your mix.
Do you keep a spread sheet, data base file, notebook….??
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Replies
Well frank, back to back answers. I use the old method. Phone and experience. But be advised I am a remodeler and most of my bidding is not large scale (usually a couple thousand, sometimes 25, rarely 90. A few pennies don't add up fast. I usually go to the trouble of at least touching base with a sub to see if they need to look at the job before giving a fairly accurate price spread. With material costs fluctuating violently, a little oops on a lot of goods could surely cause a major financial headache. Evidence the cost of plywood.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Frank I developed a database system in FileMaker that we use for all our estimating. I have a database file of we call External Production Costs where we keep track of subcontractor's prices along with some data derived from estimating data books to help me at least make some intelligent guesses at possible sub-contractor costs but to be really sure about subs pricing I'll send out RFPs (Rquests for Proposals). I made a database file for them too to help me generate them easily (click for a screenshot) and it helps organize them when we get replies on them. We can then select from the list of RFPs and the numbers will automatically enter into my estimates (also a database file).
We also use RFQs (Rquests for Quotations) for material costs and keep that information in a database of Material costs and those number we can also plug in to our estimates. A database file called Internal Production Costs for keeping track of what we charge for our in-house labor etc etc.
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