Replies

1. 
   DanH | Mar 30, 2010 06:16pm | #1

   Long enough, but not too long.

   It's a hard thing to judge.  When you're going around is circles you're probably gone on too long.

2. 
   raymond128 | Mar 30, 2010 10:28pm | #2

   Now ther is a question we would all like the answer to.

   I'm it'is different for all of us. and it can depend on the job along with many factors such as

   How big is the job

   Are you doing the take off list from no plans

   how bad do you want the job ............and so on

   I know i'm guilty of spending too much time on medium to large jobs.

   and i spennd too much time making up the propsals. Because i put alot of detail descriptions in the General Scope of Work section.

   But tha's just me.

   Now to answer your question more quantitatively..

   small jobs...maybe 1/2-1 hour

   medium jobs 2 hours. that include all that typing for the proposal.

   Others that require more thought.. obviously longer.

   keep in mind these are round about rough numbers . I don't sit ther with a time clock and keep total track of all this i just have a basic idea.

3. 
   DanH | Mar 30, 2010 10:54pm | #3

   My estimating is in an entirely different field, but the best estimates I do are when I can easily compare the work to be done to something that I did in the past and have the numbers for. 

   Of course, in my line of work, if I estimate 9 months for a pregnancy TPTB will want to put 9 women on it and get it done in a month.

   One of the worst scenarios is when I'm told it will be me and a team of 3 others.  OK, I'll say, I want Fred, Joe, and Sam, and I can do it in X months.  They'll say OK back, but then I get Bill and Frank -- fewer people and the wrong people for the job.

   Or there are cases where "invention is required".  Sorta like when you're working on an old house and you have no idea what will be there when you cut into that wall.  How are you supposed to estimate that?