Learn Electrical Estimating Online
Build your electrical estimating skills from the fundamentals through advanced estimating and design-build. The iBidElectric training program is based on real commercial electrical construction experience and focuses on the skills estimators actually use to understand projects, develop costs and prepare competitive electrical bids.
Basic Electrical Estimating
Start with the foundation. Basic Electrical Estimating teaches the complete estimating process and helps you understand how an electrical project moves from drawings and specifications to a finished bid.
Learn how to approach an electrical estimate systematically instead of simply counting material. The course focuses on understanding the project, organizing the estimate and recognizing the complete electrical scope of work.
Build Your Estimating Foundation
- Reading electrical drawings and bid documents
- Reviewing project specifications
- Understanding the electrical scope of work
- Organizing an electrical estimate
- Performing electrical quantity takeoffs
- Understanding labor units
- Developing labor extensions
From Takeoff to Final Bid
- Material pricing and extensions
- Vendor and equipment quotations
- Subcontractor pricing
- Job expenses and indirect costs
- Labor productivity considerations
- Estimate review procedures
- Developing the final selling price
New estimators, electricians moving into estimating, project managers, electrical contractors and anyone who wants a strong understanding of the complete electrical estimating process.
Advanced Electrical Estimating
Advanced Electrical Estimating moves beyond the mechanics of takeoff and pricing. The focus shifts toward evaluating complicated projects, adjusting labor for real construction conditions, identifying risk and making the judgment calls that experienced estimators make before submitting a major electrical bid.
Estimate More Complex Projects
Larger projects introduce conditions that cannot always be handled with standard labor units or simple material extensions. Learn to evaluate the factors that can dramatically affect the actual cost of performing the work.
- Advanced labor productivity analysis
- Project-specific labor adjustments
- Schedule and overtime impacts
- Site access and material handling
- Project supervision requirements
- Temporary power and construction requirements
- Complex electrical distribution systems
Develop Better Bid Strategy
Advanced estimating requires judgment. Learn to look beyond the numbers and evaluate scope gaps, project risk, competition, exclusions, qualifications and other factors that can determine whether a project is profitable.
- Identifying scope gaps and hidden requirements
- Evaluating estimating risk
- Comparing supplier and subcontractor quotations
- Analyzing alternates and allowances
- Developing bid qualifications
- Final estimate review and bid-day strategy
- Protecting margin before the bid is submitted
Estimators, senior estimators, project managers and electrical contractors who already understand estimating fundamentals and want to improve their ability to evaluate larger, more complicated and higher-risk projects.
Design-Build Electrical Estimating
Design-build estimating requires a different mindset. Instead of receiving a complete set of electrical drawings, the estimator may need to develop a realistic electrical budget from architectural drawings, preliminary documents, owner requirements or a partially developed design.
Build the Electrical Scope
Learn how to evaluate a project before the electrical design is complete. Determine what systems will likely be required, establish reasonable quantities and develop assumptions that allow the project team to make early cost decisions.
- Reviewing architectural and preliminary documents
- Developing conceptual electrical scope
- Estimating from incomplete drawings
- Electrical service and distribution planning
- Lighting and lighting control concepts
- Branch power and equipment requirements
- Low-voltage and specialty system allowances
Develop Conceptual Budgets
Learn how to develop conceptual costs and continuously refine those budgets as the electrical design progresses.
- Square-foot and system-based budgeting
- Developing realistic system allowances
- Using historical project cost information
- Creating assumptions and clarifications
- Tracking scope as the design develops
- Value engineering and cost alternatives
- Moving from conceptual budget to final estimate
Experienced estimators, preconstruction professionals, electrical contractors and project leaders involved in design-build, design-assist, negotiated work, conceptual estimating and early project budgeting.
Build Your Electrical Estimating Skills
Start with the fundamentals, develop advanced estimating judgment and then learn how to estimate projects before the electrical design is complete. Together, these three courses build practical estimating and preconstruction skills that can be applied throughout your career.