u/SpazSkope

Hi all,

Full time MEP estimator over 2 years, mostly plumbing & heating. Was a GC estimator for 2 before that and on the field (or in estimating school) for 5 before that. I also recently started to do freelance on the side for all fields, mostly residential GCs for renos and new builds.

Recently got seeked out through connections for the estimation of a ~half million dollars project.

My usual pricing for estimates is as follows:
1% of total to quote
1% of total if client signs
1% of total for complete materials list
Round up to 5% for follow-ups, managing subs, teams, clients, permits, architects and engineers. (basically PMing)

This billing structure was given to me as a rule of thumb by someone who’s been freelancing since early 2000s. Never had any issues with this, always thought it was fair and never felt under or over paid.

Anyways the guy for the 500k project is offering 1% total for quote and materials list so around 5k depending. It’s much lower than what I usually charge but, it’s literally all takeoff from plans. Zero guessing, all the materials and installation spelled out to a t, team productivity stats and rates are provided, same for suppliers and discounts, etc. I’m really inclined to accept since I should realistically be able to take care of this over a weekend give or take a couple evening sessions. It’s over a month’s worth of salary where I’m at.

Onto the questions:
Freelancers, what do your prices look like?
Much change depending on project size?
What’s your threshold(s)?
Do you go for more small projects or focus on a couple bigger ones?
Do you still work full time or has your side work taken over to the point clocking in 5 times a week feels tedious? When did you know you were ready for full time freelance?

I’m not quitting my job anytime soon, love the place, the work and the stability and hoping to bag a management position in the future but I was recently looking into getting into sales to supplement my income. Before that I tried getting freelance estimating leads but thought they led nowhere after no contractor followed through. Wasn’t sure if they were unsatisfied with my work, my prices or something else. However a contractor that was awarded a job I quoted, finally finished it in the green and referred me to 3 others. Currently quoting for 2 of them with my usual prices and probably going to call the contractor for the big job later on to accept his terms.

SL265 he’s smacking my ass

Pretty self explanatory: finally got through the AoM trilogy after stopping halfway through The trouble with Peace and then stopping halfway through The Wisdom of Crowds.

What was the point of Shenkt and Shylo abducting Vick? Didn’t really go anywhere, didn’t change much in the story ultimately… Is he perhaps setting up the next trilogy? I could see it, Shenkt didn’t want to risk his kids’ and Shylo’s lives. They are his main, if not only, weaknesses. Perhaps once they die he can actually start to do more than leave a lego or two on Bayaz’s footpath? IDK I just feel like something was being set up and was abandoned halfway.

What are your thoughta?

Title might be a little misleading.

I’m thinking of taking on a bit of a 5-9 since I have a lot of free time I need to fill. Already have hobbies, tried freelance estimating for a little bit just not getting many bites so I end up having beers and gaming.

Any estimator out here doing sales on the side/after work?

We have sales reps at work and I regularly help them close a lot of jobs that they’d lose if I wasn’t there to assist (their own words). Today I sat with a rep’s client and the rep for a bit less than an hour and spoke for the majority of the meeting. He closed em on 144 VRF heatpumps. Be spent the afternoon boasting about closing that shit and the insane commission hems gonna get. Not gonna lie, that left a pretty bad taste in my mouth especially considering I don’t really like that guy hahahaha.

Anyways, pretty much just testing the waters, hearing y’all out. I see myself working here for the foreseeable future but would like to explore the option of a sales closer 5-9. Im on EST so could easily be in the hours for business calls say on the west coast.

I also speak French, English and Spanish so basically all the Americas, Western Europe, parts of Africa and Oceania all would be doable remotely. Currently in Canada.

I got 2 1974 Schauff Grand Sport Olympiad edition (for the ‘73 munich olympics). Bought one last summer enjoyed it in its original form for a few months before I stripped it of derailleurs, rear brake and cable routers to turn it into a fixed gear beater. It’s basically a rocket right now, kept the crankset and BB, deleted the small cog so I’m currently sitting at 52t in front, 15t rear. Went to a friend’s during fall and ended up ubering home since I had a few too many drinks. Anyways he rode it to work for a while. Just got it back a couple weeks ago and the recessed part of the spindle for the cottered cranks is damaged beyond repair or safe efficient use. I need/want to overhaul it to something new.

I found the same bike on marketplace last year and ended up getting such a good deal for it I feel bad for the seller haha, great guy though. It has one of those thompson bottom bracket. Anyways, he’s an engineer and machined a titanium tube which he fit in the original housing with a hydraulic press and lots of heat before machining threads in there to fit any ol’ standard BSA threaded BB. I obviously don’t have the means to reproduce this on my beater.

Looking for STURDY press-fit BB 68mm width 48 (?)mm Ø that will take the absolute beating I will put it through without budging. Im having a lot of trouble finding something that will fit and perform with all the options there are. What should I look out for and what would you recommend?

Hi y’all. Been wanting to surprise my grandma and get her 5 yo untreated deck looking brand new.

Thing is I havent had 3 full days of sun on the weather cast. I’ve had to push it back 3 times already as I can only give her full days on weekends since I work full time.

Everywhere I look everyone is absolutely adamant about washing, brightening, drying for 48 hours before I can sand. Then stain and dry for 2 days.

Im starting to think this is impossible. My initial plan was to go wash and brighten on wednesday, sand and stain during the weekend but fuck me it’s been raining like crazy over here. Not even a lot of rain, just maybe a couple showers every day.

How would you, deck masters, deal with this situation?

For mods: couldnt add flair from phone for some reason

Just got the DLC shes smacking me dont remember if I’m on NG+3 or Ng+4. Comment and share code