reed construction data

Dick_3

The Dodge Report will have most of the public work and some private work listed, and the work will be plan/spec type work. The game is how low can you go.

There will be some prime mechanical jobs, but alot of mechanical work will be bid to GCs. The GC will be prime and you'll be a subcontractor to the GC.

If you really hate yourself, you'll start bidding to the GCs. Even if your low bid on bid day, when the GC gets the award he'll start working your number against other mechanicals to see who will go the lowest. If you happen to be the lowest, he'll beat you up a little more to get your final low number. Then, he'll call his favorite mechanical to see if he can beat your really low number. If his favorite can't beat your number, you'll probably have a job. Now you have to put the job in per the spec, on time, try to make a profit with your really low number, do all the paperwork, and hope you get paid before you or the GC goes bankrupt.

The prime mechanical jobs are a little better, but you still have to be low bid. Atleast you can control your destiny a little better if you're prime. If you're selective, you can make decent margins, but these jobs are few and far inbetween.

You'll need to be bondable on most of these jobs and have a good lawyer on deck.

When you estimate such a job, think like a ****, when in doubt leave it out. Don't allow for a mistake, any problems, or any inefficiencies, if you do, your number will be high.

When you get a job, you'll have to beat up your wholesalers and equipment suppliers for their best numbers, pretend your a GC and work one supplier against the other, because you'll have such a low number you have to buy your stuff at the lowest number. Some guys say this is where you make your money on a plan/spec job. When you get on the job, plan on cutting every corner you can, but don't get caught because you have to comply to the spec.

If you don't have any other work, jump in with the rest of the low bidders and give it try, you'll have a whole new perspective of the trade in no time.

You're better off with you own private negotiated work, design build jobs, and/or service work. Learn to be a good salesman, not a low bidder.





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[Deleted User]

reed construction data

Are any of you guys using the reed construction data reports to get leads. I know there are a few guys on the site that do commercial work and was wondering if you are using the reed reports or the dodge reports to get work leads. I dont want to invest in something that doesnt work. Any help would be greatly appreciated.