Estimating
Because considering costs is important
Team Estimating
Loder Construction, Inc. has experienced and professional estimators, fully trained for all commercial projects within Northern California, including Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Berkeley, Fresno, Stockton, Modesto, and Chico, CA.
Design-Build Firm San Francisco, CA | Construction Cost Estimating Oakland, CA | Pre-Construction Service Stockton, CA
Standard Estimating
We make sure that the full scope of the project is covered with every proposal. Also included is a full description of each trade. It does take a bit more time when generating our proposals, but we are confident that our cost is the best possible when delivered. We have found this greatly increases the efficiency of the project as a whole and is pleasing to everyone involved in the project.
Bidding Software, The Shirtboard
The inspiration behind our bidding software can be traced back to the early 1970s. While Ron was learning the techniques of estimating from E.W. Hahn Company, Ernest W. Hahn always had his dress shirts pressed and delivered. To ensure that the shirts stayed pristine, he would receive them from the dry cleaners containing cardboard cutouts in the shape of his shirts called “Shirtboards.” On any given day, Ernest would have 20-30 just lying around his office awaiting a bid day. During a bid, the Shirtboards were re-purposed and used to represent each trade and the subcontractor’s scope and price. This allowed many estimators to break down the bid into smaller specialties and have multiple estimators working on the same bid. At the end of the estimation, Shirtboards were collected, allowing a visual representation of the project in its entirety.
As comical as this sounds, the whole process allowed a very precise and competitive bid. By giving the bid a tactile visualization, estimators could literally “hand-off” a section of work to another and ensure the best possible price for each trade. It also allowed the flexibility of options and alternatives to every portion of the project.
Loder Construction, Inc. has digitized this time tested method and developed our own software-based off of this bidding technique. We still refer to our breakouts as the project “Shirtboard” and we are constantly improving our unique software to better accommodate the client’s needs.