You've got questions. TurboBid has answers!

The main objective of any contracting company is to generate profit. And how do you achieve that? It's quite simple - by selling jobs at a higher price than their cost. However, accurately estimating the cost of a project in a timely manner can sometimes be a challenge. But fear not, because TurboBid is here to help.

TurboBid offers a straightforward, step-by-step process for estimating and bidding that allows you to systematically account for all the costs associated with a job. With our software, you can easily identify and factor in every expense, ensuring that your estimates are highly accurate. We take immense pride in assisting contractors in becoming better business individuals.

What sets us apart is our genuine desire to see our customers succeed. There's truly no greater feeling than receiving a heartfelt letter from one of our customers, expressing their gratitude for helping them create a better life for themselves and their loved ones.

So, if you're looking to boost your business and improve your bottom line, give TurboBid a try. We're here to support you every step of the way.

"How can I complete my estimates faster?"

"I wanted to reach out and discuss a pressing concern that has been affecting my business lately. It seems that I have been spending an excessive amount of time on estimating, which is necessary but can be quite time-consuming. The problem is that while I am preoccupied with estimates, I am unable to focus on the tasks that generate income for my business.

As you know, my main source of income comes from working with my tools and managing my business efficiently. However, the more time I spend on estimates, the less time I have to dedicate to these profitable activities. Therefore, it is crucial for me to find a way to complete estimates quickly and effectively, allowing me to maximize my income.

I believe that by streamlining the estimation process, I can significantly improve my financial gains. The ability to complete estimates faster would enable me to allocate more time towards revenue-generating tasks. This would ultimately lead to higher profits and a more successful business overall.

I am open to any suggestions or solutions you may have to help me overcome this challenge. Whether it's implementing new software or adopting alternative methods, I am willing to explore all possibilities. Your expertise and input would be highly valued and greatly appreciated."

Jeremy S. – Elkhorn, WI

Answer

Want to save time and make more money? Look no further than TurboBid.

TurboBid is an estimating tool that will revolutionize the way you complete estimates. With its unique wizard format, you can finish estimates in a fraction of the time it usually takes. No more wasting hours on tedious calculations.

The best part? TurboBid guides you through every step of the process, ensuring your estimates are detailed and accurate. Say goodbye to guesswork and hello to confidence.

Don't miss out on this game-changing tool. Try TurboBid today and watch your productivity soar.

"Will TurboBid show me exactly what it will cost me to complete a project?"

"I wanted to discuss something that has been bothering me regarding estimating job costs. While I try my best to come up with a reasonable estimate, I can't help but feel uncertain about the exact figures. This uncertainty is making me quite uneasy."

Jeff L. – Camden, NY

Answer

I wanted to reach out and share some exciting news about TurboBid. Our software is designed to revolutionize the way you estimate construction projects.

One of the biggest challenges in the industry is accurately predicting costs. With TurboBid, you can bid with confidence, knowing that our estimates are extremely accurate. By understanding your true costs, you can ensure that every job you are awarded will make a profit. It's time to leave the losers to your competition.

Gone are the days of relying on ballpark estimating, unit pricing, or square foot pricing. These methods simply don't work because there are too many variables in each project. The construction of the dwelling, the manpower required, and the materials needed can all vary from job to job. TurboBid takes all of these factors into account, ensuring that your estimate includes all direct and indirect costs.

By using TurboBid, you can finally start generating consistent profits. No more guessing games or worrying about unexpected expenses eating into your margins. Our software allows you to have a clear and comprehensive understanding of your expenses, enabling you to bid competitively and confidently.

Don't miss out on this game-changing opportunity. Try TurboBid today and experience the difference for yourself.

"Does TurboBid determine what material is needed?"

"I wanted to reach out because I'm currently facing a challenge with estimating costs for my projects. I typically rely on unit pricing and square foot pricing, but the fluctuating prices of materials are throwing me off. It seems like every week my wire prices change, and steel products are constantly going up and down. To add to the mix, my GFCIs just experienced a price increase. All these changes have left me feeling a bit lost and unsure of where I stand.

I'm reaching out to see if you have any advice or recommendations on how to navigate this issue. Are there any strategies or tools I can use to better account for these fluctuating material prices? I want to ensure that my estimates are accurate and reflective of the current market conditions."

Jorge R. – Macomb, MI

Answer

Just wanted to let you know about TurboBid and how it can help you with accurate material pricing for your projects. TurboBid is a powerful tool that not only determines the exact materials needed for a job, but also provides various options to keep your material prices up to date.

With TurboBid, you have the choice to use pricing services from TurboCloud, Trade Service, EPIC, and NetPricer. What's even better is that we have partnered with hundreds of supply houses who are offering free vendor price files exclusively for TurboBid users. This means you can easily update your material prices with just a click of a button.

Each material item in TurboBid can include pricing for an unlimited number of vendors. So, you have the flexibility to choose the best prices available in the market.

Rest assured, with TurboBid, you can confidently rely on the accuracy of the material cost in your estimates. Say goodbye to the hassle of manual price updates and embrace the convenience of TurboBid.

"Can I complete an estimate per plan and have a way to show my customer what else is needed to meet code?"

"I wanted to discuss a customer request that I've received and get your opinion on it.

One of our customers has asked me to provide them with a price for exactly what is on the blueprint. They want to compare "apples to apples," so to speak. Additionally, they have asked for a separate price for a code compliant installation.

While I understand their desire for transparency and accuracy, I must admit that this request has been causing me some concern. The process of providing separate prices for each requirement is turning out to be more trouble than it's worth.

I value this potential job and would like to find a way to meet the customer's needs without compromising our efficiency. I was wondering if we could propose a different approach. Instead of providing separate prices, we could offer a comprehensive quote that includes both the exact blueprint requirements and the code compliant installation. This way, the customer can clearly see the difference in costs and make an informed decision.

I believe this solution would not only save us time but also provide the customer with a more accurate understanding of the project's overall cost. It would eliminate any confusion or discrepancies that may arise from separate pricing."

Ronald S. – Red Hook. NY

Answer

Just wanted to let you know about TurboBid, a powerful tool that can make your job a whole lot easier. With TurboBid, you can effortlessly generate both a "Per Plan" price and a "Value Engineered" price.

With our software, you can perform a take-off "Per Plan" and also do a "Value Engineered" take-off. The latter includes only the necessary additions and deletions to meet the minimum code requirements. This means that you can create the most cost-effective electrical layout that is still fully compliant with the National Electrical Code (NEC) and local amendments.

But that's not all. TurboBid goes one step further by generating a detailed Value Engineered report. This report shows your customers exactly which items were added or deleted, on a room-by-room basis. Your clients rely on your expertise in this area, and with TurboBid, you can prove that you are the best in the business.

Remember, your customers don't need an architect for electrical contracting – they have you. By offering value engineering, you can provide them with a competitive advantage by lowering their costs while maintaining the highest standards of electrical design.

Give TurboBid a try and see how it can revolutionize your business. Get that edge over your competition and become the go-to electrical contractor for cost-effective yet code-specific electrical layouts.

"Can I use TurboBid for walk thru revisions and change orders?"

"I wanted to reach out and discuss a concern I've been facing lately. It seems that I'm spending an excessive amount of time on revising my estimates to accommodate customer walk-throughs and change orders. While it's already frustrating enough to revise the bid price, the real challenge lies in compiling a detailed listing of all the revisions required.

I believe this issue is hindering both my productivity and efficiency. It would be immensely helpful if we could find a way to streamline this process, allowing me to focus on other important tasks. Perhaps we can explore alternatives such as implementing a system that automates the revision process or creating standardized templates for common revisions.

I understand the importance of accuracy and transparency in our estimates, but I believe there must be a more efficient way of achieving this without sacrificing precious time and energy. Your guidance and support in addressing this matter would be greatly appreciated."

Scott M. – Hansen, MA

Answer

I wanted to share with you a game-changing tool called TurboBid. It's designed to help you save valuable time and money when it comes to generating revised bid packages.

With TurboBid, revising estimates has never been easier. Whether it's based on a customer walk-through or plan revisions, you can effortlessly update your estimates. What's even better is that TurboBid will display the original bid price, the cost of the revisions, and the revised total bid price.

But that's not all. TurboBid also generates a comprehensive Change Order report. This report provides your customers with a detailed breakdown of what items were added or deleted, room by room. It's a great way to keep your customers in the loop and ensure transparency throughout the bidding process.

Give TurboBid a try and experience the time and cost savings for yourself. I'm confident it will revolutionize the way you handle bid packages.

"Does TurboBid include current code requirements?"

"I wanted to reach out and discuss a concern I've been facing when bidding on jobs in new cities. It often becomes challenging for me to anticipate the special requirements that inspectors may have, which has resulted in financial losses in the past.

I've tried contacting inspectors beforehand to gain clarity, but unfortunately, their responses have been quite vague. This lack of information makes it difficult for me to include all the necessary code requirements, especially those that go beyond the NEC standards.

While I understand the importance of budgeting for worst-case scenarios, I worry that including these potential additional requirements in my bids will make my prices uncompetitive and decrease my chances of securing the job.

I was hoping to discuss this matter with you and explore any suggestions or strategies you may have in dealing with such situations. Your expertise and guidance would be greatly appreciated."

Mike M. - Quincy, FL

Answer

I wanted to let you know about TurboBid's amazing features, specifically the electrical code section. It's designed to give you all the information you need about the local electrical inspector's requirements. By using TurboBid's interactive code requirement section, you can stay up-to-date on what the inspector expects before you finalize your estimate.

Having this knowledge is crucial because it allows you to value engineer a print and create an electrical layout that complies with the local codes. Being able to offer this level of professionalism and value-added service to your customers is what sets you apart from the competition.

With TurboBid, you can easily generate a Code Requirement report that you can share with your field team. This way, your foreman will be well-informed about the inspector's requirements, ensuring a smooth and code-compliant project.

Give TurboBid a try and experience the difference it can make in streamlining your estimating process while keeping you in the loop with local code requirements.

"How can I quickly put together a detailed bid package?"

"I wanted to discuss an issue that I have been facing lately regarding the time it takes me to put together my bid package. Surprisingly, it takes me longer to assemble the bid package than it does to actually complete the estimate. This situation has been bothering me as I strongly believe that the quality of my bid package directly reflects my company's professionalism.

You see, if I fail to submit a bid package that exudes professionalism, I am afraid that potential clients will not perceive me as a professional contractor. And as a result, I might not be awarded the job.

I wanted to share this concern with you because I believe that your expertise and guidance can help me find a solution. I value your opinion and would appreciate any advice or suggestions you might have to streamline the bid package process."

Stephen F. – Meridian, ID

Answer

I wanted to tell you about an incredible tool called TurboBid. It's a game-changer for contractors like us.

TurboBid automatically generates highly detailed bid packages and reports, utilizing the information from your estimate. This feature alone saves a significant amount of time, allowing you to focus on other important aspects of your business.

But that's not all. The bid packages and reports created by TurboBid are so professional and polished that they instill confidence in your customers. And we all know that when customers have confidence in your company, price becomes less of a deciding factor.

By using TurboBid, you not only save time but also position your company as a reliable and trustworthy option. It's an investment that pays off in the long run.

Give TurboBid a try and see the difference it makes for your business. I assure you, you won't be disappointed.

"How does TurboBid adjust installation times based on the building's construction?"

"I wanted to let you know about an amazing feature of TurboBid's residential electrical estimating program. It's something that can save you a lot of time and ensure accurate estimates for your projects.

TurboBid has a unique ability to assign the correct labor units based on the construction of each floor (level) of the project. This is crucial because the construction factors of a building can greatly impact installation times.

Let me give you an example to illustrate this. Imagine you have a project with multiple floors. The 1st floor has a ceiling constructed of dimensional lumber (2x12), while the 2nd floor has an open roof truss ceiling. Now, if you need to rough-in a ceiling outlet, it will take longer on the 1st floor compared to the 2nd floor. But don't worry, TurboBid takes care of all these calculations for you.

With TurboBid's residential electrical estimating program, you can rest assured that the installation times will be automatically adjusted based on the construction factors of each floor. This means you can provide accurate estimates without the hassle of manually adjusting labor units.

So why waste time and effort on manual calculations when TurboBid can do it all for you? Give it a try and see how it simplifies your estimating process."

Daniel B. – Laurel, IA

Answer

TurboBid will automatically assign the correct labor units based on the construction of each floor (level) of the project.

The construction factors of a building make a difference on installation times. Example: The 1st floor's ceiling is constructed of dimensional lumber (2x12). The 2nd floor's ceiling is constructed of open roof trusses. A ceiling outlet will take longer to rough-in on the 1st floor than it will on the 2nd floor. TurboBid's residential electrical estimating program automatically adjusts the installation times based on the construction factors of a building on a floor by floor basis.

"How can I determine how many more hours the job will take because low skill level apprentices are on the job?"

"I wanted to discuss a concern I have regarding the apprentices and helpers on our team. While I appreciate their lower wages, I have noticed that their lower skill levels are impacting our labor budget for each job. Their lack of productivity is causing our more experienced and expensive employees to work extra hours to compensate for this shortfall.

The problem is, I am struggling to accurately estimate the additional hours the entire crew will need to work due to this imbalance. This uncertainty puts us at risk of losing money on the projects.

I believe it is important for us to address this issue and find a solution that ensures our labor budget remains intact. Let's brainstorm and come up with a plan to either improve the skill levels of our apprentices and helpers or allocate their tasks more effectively. This way, we can avoid any financial setbacks and maintain a smooth workflow."

Mark R. - Jersey City, NJ

Answer

I wanted to let you know about a great feature of TurboBid that can save you time and money on your projects. Our software automatically takes into account the skill level of each employee and calculates its impact on the entire crew.

You see, if you have workers who are not yet at journeyman level, such as apprentices or summer help, their lower production levels can affect the overall productivity of the crew. To ensure an accurate labor budget, TurboBid adds the additional hours that the crew needs to work in order to compensate for the lower production of these employees.

Let me give you an example. If an apprentice is only producing half of what a journeyman does, the rest of the crew will have to put in extra hours to make up for this shortfall. TurboBid takes this into consideration and adjusts the hours accordingly.

By using TurboBid, you can have peace of mind knowing that your labor budget is accurate and realistic. It takes the guesswork out of estimating and ensures that your projects stay on track.

"Can TurboBid account for employee pay raises that will occur in the middle of a project"

"I wanted to discuss an important aspect of our upcoming multi-unit project. The project is estimated to last around 10 months. However, we have recently made the decision to provide our employees with a pay rate increase two months into the project.

Now, the challenge we face is determining how much additional money we should allocate to each unit in order to offset the pay rate increase. This is crucial to ensure that our budget remains balanced and that we can meet our financial commitments.

I would appreciate it if you could provide your insights and expertise on this matter. Together, we can come up with a fair and reasonable solution that takes into account the needs of our employees and the financial implications for the project."

Gary G. – Amherst, OH

Answer

I wanted to share some exciting news about TurboBid and how it can help you with your upcoming projects.

Imagine this scenario: you have a project scheduled to start in April, but you know that there will be a labor rate increase coming up in June. You don't want to go back to your customer and ask for an increase just two months after starting the project. At the same time, you don't want to add the full labor increase to the units that will be built before the increase takes effect. Doing so might make your price too high and jeopardize your chances of winning the project.

This is where TurboBid comes in. It has a nifty feature that calculates the precise amount to add to each unit in your project, taking into account the upcoming labor increase. By considering factors such as the number of units in the project and the rate at which units are built per week, TurboBid ensures that you can offset the labor increase without inflating your price unnecessarily.

With TurboBid, you can confidently submit your proposal to your customer, knowing that you have accounted for the future labor increase in a fair and accurate manner. No more awkward conversations or missed opportunities!

"Does TurboBid's include a report that would show what is included in each room?"

"Our customers have expressed a strong desire to have a detailed breakdown of what our estimate includes for each room. Currently, we simply provide a total count from the print, as individually assessing each room would be extremely time-consuming.

However, we understand the importance of meeting our customers' needs and providing them with the information they require. Therefore, we are actively exploring alternative ways to streamline this process and offer a comprehensive breakdown for each room without sacrificing an excessive amount of time.

We value your feedback and appreciate your patience as we work towards finding a solution that meets both our customers' expectations and our operational efficiency."

Richard T. – Castaic, CA

Answer

Just wanted to let you know about an awesome feature in TurboBid - it allows you to easily generate quantity take-offs on a room by room basis. This unique feature makes the take-off process super fast, accurate, and detailed.

When you open TurboBid, you'll find that the take-off spreadsheet is already pre-loaded with all the rooms from the blueprint, along with the required assemblies. This way, you don't have to waste time manually entering each room and assembly.

The best part is that this room by room method allows you to create a proposal for your customer that clearly lists all the included assemblies in each room. It's a great way to showcase your attention to detail and give your customers a comprehensive overview of what they can expect.

So why not give TurboBid a try? It's the perfect tool to streamline your take-off process and impress your customers with accurate proposals.

"How does TurboBid add my company's overhead expenses to an estimate?"

"I wanted to discuss a concern I have been facing lately regarding my overhead expenses and how they affect my estimates. I find it quite challenging to determine the right amount of money to add to my estimate to cover my overhead costs. It's been bothering me as I fear that I might either have too much overhead or not enough.

I would greatly appreciate your insights and advice on this matter. Your expertise and guidance would be invaluable to me in finding the right balance and ensuring that my estimates are accurate and realistic."

Dean L. – Sheridan, WY

Answer

Let's discuss an important aspect of your business - your true overhead costs. It's crucial to have a clear understanding of this, as it directly impacts your profitability.

In simple terms, overhead refers to the expenses you need to cover in order to keep your business running smoothly, even when there's no one actively working on projects. It encompasses everything except material costs, labor expenses, and job-specific expenditures. This includes office expenses, salaries, sales costs, office equipment, and vehicles, among others.

For electrical contractors like yourself, overhead typically ranges between 13% and 20% of total sales. Interestingly, smaller contractors tend to have higher overhead percentages, while larger contractors generally have lower percentages. However, it's important to note that these figures are just averages. Every company is unique, and your overhead percentages may vary depending on your specific line of work, business practices, and accounting period.

The key is to keep your overhead at the minimum necessary to ensure your field workers operate at maximum efficiency. There's no one-size-fits-all "correct" percentage that applies to everyone.

Understanding your true overhead costs is vital for making informed decisions about pricing, budgeting, and overall financial management. It allows you to have a clear picture of your business's financial health and helps you strategize for growth and profitability.

I have an important question for you. Do you know your true overhead cost? If your answer to this question is no, it's possible that you're missing out on a significant amount of money.

"Can I limit an estimator’s access to sensitive information?"

"I wanted to bring up a concern regarding our estimating department. Currently, one of our employees is responsible for entering basic information and taking off the prints. However, I have some reservations about them having access to our sensitive pricing information."

Tom W. – Hillsboro, OR

Answer

I wanted to introduce you to TurboBid, a powerful tool that can help you maintain security and restrict access to sensitive pricing information within your company. With TurboBid, you have the ability to assign security levels to your employees, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access certain data.

To access TurboBid, your employees will need to enter their unique username and password, providing an additional layer of security. Furthermore, you have the option to restrict access to specific employees for individual projects, allowing you to control who has access to certain information.

If you have concerns about keeping bid prices and other sensitive data restricted, TurboBid offers a solution. You can set up an employee with data entry-only restrictions, meaning they can enter data into the estimate without being able to view any of the Bid Price Data screens. This provides peace of mind that confidential information is safeguarded.

In summary, TurboBid empowers you to maintain control over your company's sensitive pricing information. By assigning security levels, restricting access to projects, and implementing data entry-only restrictions, you can ensure that your business's confidential data remains protected.