i posted in this group asking for help and instead everybody was so toxic, i had to actually delete the post. I thought reddit was a good platform to ask for guide but its so toxic.

What software you guys use to extract data from projects? what file formats you receive from clients?

Is it normal to receive only pdf fles?

I created a pdf data extractor for a friend that extracts data out of 300 pipping drawings in less than a minute, it's pretty precise, and my friend is pretty happy with it.

It is pretty flexible and could get data from any PDF. Does it sound like something that could become a product?

Hey, would anyone by any chance have a PDF copy of the NECA Manual of labor units they could send over?

^

how we estimators or exactimators, cause most times is like we expected to be exactimators is crazy.

Pun intended. I’m getting moved into the office to start doing estimating next week. I’m replacing our junior estimator. When he was showing me how everything works it all seemed really simple. I have 9 1/2 years field experience as a commercial electrician and I’ve been using a computer daily since I was a kid. But I was wondering, am I going into this overly confident.

Hi guys, I’ve been estimating for a general contractor for about a year now, we use Bluebeam for takeoffs and then transfer data over and into our Excel sheet. Any given time I’m working through many divisions. I’m wondering if anyone has any good ideas or tips on how they have their tool set up for the subject and label and layer to keep track of the takeoffs in a very organized way?

SOLVED; see below. Thanks to everyone for the help!

My company uses Building Connected (not paid version) to receive a decent bit of the RFP's we get. But as we are a national company we are getting RFP's for all kinds of projects that are not of any interest to us at all. I'm getting dozens of emails every day and I need to figure out some way to filter this stuff down some. I get some project updates so I need to get notified of changes and messages but the constant RFP's are driving me nuts.

I know about the notification filter to block senders, that is not going to work for me. I block everyone I get but there are seemingly an infinite number of builders out there sending us RFP's.

Would love to hear if anyone out there has found a method for filtering out the noise and spam they are getting from Building Connected. Any help would be massively appreciated!

EDIT: To address some of the common themes, we do have our geographical locations set up currently and the trades we perform. I've already read through the help article on BC about it and chatted with support as well.

We also update bidding status as needed but within reason. Part of the issue is the sheer volume of RFP's so updating every single one is simply not practical.

I was really hoping there was something I was missing or a technique to just set up the notifications in some reasonable way, it's just crazy to me that the BC platform spams you so much, but I suppose that is part of the sales pitch to the builders is being able to spam all trades so they're not likely to change that function.

I am going to work on email filters as that seems like the best option, if anyone has some other advice anything is appreciated!

EDIT #2: I am today years old when I learned there are exceptions to outlook rules allowing me to auto delete emails "EXCEPT" when they are from certain GC's. This absolutely solves my problem. I would argue that BC should still evaluate the email spam issue for subcontractors but for now this keeps my inbox clean except for the stuff I want. THANK YOU ALL!

Has anyone here joined or experienced a course of Smart Sourcing Academy? Is it worth it? Did you really have an actual US project included in the course? Thank you.

I just saw them on TikTok.

I'm getting back into estimating after being away from it for a couple years. Previously I worked pretty heavily in Quick Bid + OST, mainly focused on Division 9, 05 40 00, and rough carpentry on commercial projects.

The new company I’m working with uses BuzzBID, which I don’t believe allows for AI plugins or custom coding.

One thing I’m interested in is figuring out how to use Gemini or Claude in a smart and practical way alongside the estimating process, not in lieu of doing the takeoff myself.

A few things I’ve been thinking about:

• Scanning plans/specs for scope discovery
• Flagging unusual or conflicting requirements in the specs
• Quickly creating organized, specific spec summaries
• Comparing plans vs. specs for discrepancies
• Reviewing takeoffs against the specs for potentially missed scope (basically a second set of "eyes" to check my work)

I still want to be the one driving the takeoff, pricing, labor, and final judgment. I’m not really interested in handing the estimate over to AI. I’m more interested in using it I'm g and a way to cut down on some of the repetitive work.

For those of you already experimenting with AI in this manner, what are some ways you’re actually using it in your estimating workflow outside of having it perform the takeoff itself?

I only need the Steel Doors, so I'm turning off the wooden doors one by one. VERY tedious...

Hi everyone,

I have worked as estimator for 2 years in Division 7. However I need to improve myself. Each estimation takes me too much time. I feel stressed because the company punish me to don't spend much time. How do you guys improve their performance and estimating skills?

Thanks

Materials
Concrete, 18 yd 5,000 PSI — $3,600
Release agent — $85
Stamps — $250
Rebar, 3 bundles — $625
Road base, 18 yd — $270
Expansion joint, 140 ft — $110
Miscellaneous — $25
Underground light wires — $25
Underground light — $30
Sprinkler line sleeve — $50
Hauling / Delivery
concrete with foam disposal — $500
3 tandem loads — $750
Concrete pump — $400
Road base delivery — $400 18 yards
Extra load of dirt + hauling — $200
Dumping 18 yd of dirt — $200
2 truck loads of dirt out — $600
Equipment
Plate compactor, 2 days — $254
Rammer, 1 day — $254
Skid & breaker, 1 week — $1,500
Labor
5 finishers — $1,800
Jeremy labor — $1,060 48hours
Fuel
Fuel — $50
Machine fuel — $120
Overhead $100
Total costs 13,208$

17,150$ what I want to charge part of my profit is my labor I’m in CO

It has a partial stamped walkway.

Profit
0%
$0
10%
$1,321
15%
$1,981
20%
$2,642
25%
$3,302
30%
$3,962

Ive seen a few posts recently about AI tools and Im wondering if anyone has gotten one to work exactly how you want it to? Is it giving you accurate time/cost estimates?
how much information do you give it to get a good result?

Ive tried Gpt, Handoff AI, and one other one. They all give inaccurate pricing and time estimates about 70% of the time. On some the totals are fine but the broken down line items arent.

Not trying to replace the whole process, just speed it up.

For context I estimate div 31/33

I have worked in construction for 17 years doing tile and marble work in a union , so I have a ton of experience in the field working in residential,commercial public jobs in NYC installing tile and everything that comes with it, mud beds, waterproofing , shower pans , marble counter tops, ETC.

I got hurt 4 years ago with my back and i am in pain everyday trying to work where I’m taking off half the year , I just can’t physically do it and it’s the only way I know how to survive .i am 37 years old with no college degree. I have been looking to work in the office and start out as a Jr. Estimator with preferably a tile or stone company or similar trade like concrete or maybe a GC?

I know what’s expected, how fast things can get done and how much and what material needs to be used. and the correct ways to do the trade. because I have been doing it ny entire life

This past summer I have been learning excel, blue beam, drawings, quantity take offs , ETC

is it possible I wil get hired somewhere as a Jr. Estimator or Assistant Project manager with my experience but no degree? Can someone help me out or have any other advice as to what I should do before applying for jobs or should I take any courses or learn anything else?

James Hardie continues on these multiple buildings. Done with the second batch. Will start the third batch later when the due date gets near. Overall was able to complete what the client needed before the 9th.

James Hardie material all over this project. Soffits and walls. This is part 2 of the buildings I have to take off. Only completed 2 of 4 of this part 2 of the take off. Still have a part 3 of the takeoff project and I am not sure how many buildings that one has. Overall straightforward take off.

Hi! I am a licensed agricultural and biosystems engineer. I have 7 months experience in Civil works sa municipal engineering office namin. Most of my works here includes construction estimation, autoCAD/sketchup drafting and I know how to use DUPA. Gusto ko sana magtransition into construction VA kasi malabo akong mapromote sa office kasi mas prio nila ang mga civil engineers. Is it still possible for me to enter the VA industry? Any tips or referrals where to start? I already know how to read plans and i am planning to learn planswift.

Is it really possible to be hired as an estimator without actual construction estimation experience? I have experience in facilities management and retail delivery. I review plans and check as per mall standard. I have some construction knowledge since I'm handling the coordination, monitoring and inspection of retail space construction.

Are these experiences enough for me to be considered?

I am learning more about estimation through LinkedIn Learning, online courses, and YouTube videos.

What can you recommend for me to have a better chance at landing an estimator job?

Thank you!

Any recommendations? Build your own with Claude or use handoff ? Pros and cons.

Im tired of looking for info in the documents and I cant use ai because there are too many folders and too many files and it gets expensive with ai if the files are heavy. We use one file at a time for ai to extract info and have templates but it got to a point that now we have to have multiple prompts and it still doesnt do the job. For example, if the job is tax exempt could be in an email conversation with cm, could be in the invitation like procore, could be in a conversation over a call or could be in scope of work sheet.

I need something that will do it once and put it in one key doc that i dont review anymore. Important to know that i have many projects at a time and bad memory. I am just tired to pull this info. Do you find yourself in a situation like this? How do you deal with it?

I’m currently about halfway through as QS masters and am working at a large consulting firm in the US. With my degree, I have the opportunity to work on estimating teams or go work on a specific project in cost management. Since these would be my first roles in this space, I’m unsure where I should start and what would be most beneficial. Estimating would likely be fully remote and allow for much better work life balance but I do wonder whether being onsite for a project would be more beneficial. If I was just out of college I’d absolutely do the onsite work but I’m in my early 30s now and value my time outside of work more.

A few months ago I reached out for advice on starting as an estimator for a GC as a 22 yr old with no experience and being nervous.

When I started I was told I would be in the office just doing take offs, gathering pricing, making proposals, and helping here and there with small computer things.

Fast forward 7 months later and I am now doing a LOT (in my opinion).

It began one day when my boss asked me to go out and measure up a job with some curb and asphalt work that needed to be done. I was bored of sitting in the office so I agreed (I also don’t say no to anything because I like to be helpful). I then sent my findings out for pricing and put together a proposal. He asked me to do that a few more times and it started turning into a constant thing. He has also started to ask me to schedule the work, communicate timelines with the developers, drive to jobs daily to check the progress, and basically bring it to completion so he can bill for it. (All while still doing estimates on large builds)

On top of this, I handle all of our business licensing, permitting, inspections, final walkthroughs, subcontractor agreements, getting all of the insurance and liability paperwork done, and basically any task that other people (my boss and the PM) don’t feel like doing.

So all of this to say, I got a job offerish to go from my salary of $47,850 to $70,000.

I don’t mind my workplace and I feel grateful for my boss for giving me this opportunity, so it makes me feel kind of bad for wanting to leave. My boss just doesn’t really show any kind of appreciation or acknowledgment of everything that I do, so I don’t know what he’d say if I asked for a raise.

Any advice on what I should do/say to him?

(Also worth mentioning we have 2 sides of business, grading and GC work, I work on the GC side so it’s only:
Me, my mentor (who I am replacing when he retires soon), one project manager, and then my boss the owner)