The most important qualifications of a successful estimator

1. Ability to read and interpret drawings and specifications

2. Good communication skills
3. Knowledge of basic mathematics
4. Patience and ability to do careful, thorough work
5. Good understanding of field operations and procedures
6. Ability to visualize the three-dimensional project from looking at the drawings
7. Ability to identify risks and then neutralize them as much as possible
8. Ability to anticipate all the construction steps in building the project
9. Good organizational ability, to communicate the estimate in a logical and clear
presentation
10. Ability to produce or help produce a construction schedule
11. Good understanding of labor productivity and equipment performance
12. Understanding and ability to use the construction company's job costing systems
13. Ability to recognize when the construction company's standards for estimating
costs do not apply to a particular line item in the estimate
14. Understanding of the contractual relationships
15. Creativity and ability to think of alternative construction methods
16. Ability to develop a strategy for being successful in the bidding and negotiating
phase of the project
17. Ability to meet deadlines and still remain calm
18. A solid code of ethics
RISKS IN ESTIMATING
The environment that surrounds the construction cost estimate is very risky.
The estimator does not have control of the circumstances that follow the
estimating process. However, the estimator should try to identify as
many of those risk areas as possible. Risk can be decreased by making
as few assumptions as possible and making logical decisions. The risk
can be divided into risks associated with the project and risks
associated with the process of estimating.
The identification of all the risks or uncertainties that are associated with a
particular project can be difficult. However, this is one of the
responsibilities of the estimator.
some of the ways to identify uncertainties associated with the
1. Study all documents associated with the project thoroughly, including those that are referenced in the
project
contract documents.
2. Make a site visitation before the bid.
3. Develop a construction schedule before the bid.
4. Investigate the financial capabilities of the owners and their ethical business relations.
5. Identify responsible subcontractors and material suppliers that can meet the demands of the project.
6. Attend the prebid meetings.
7. Be certain the resources are available to build the project.
8. Develop a fact sheet about the project.
9. Develop a strategy for getting the project.
10. Investigate the reputation of the architect and the architect's ethical working relationships with
construction firms.
11. Identify clauses in the specifications that are open-ended or would transfer risk to the construction
firm.
12. Identify clauses in the supplementary or special conditions of the specifications that transfer
additional risk to the construction firm.
13. Identify governmental permit and other requirements.
14. Identify environmental hazards associated with the project.
15. Identify any adverse public reaction to the project.
16. Identify the availability of local labor and whether or not unions are involved.
17. Review the historical weather patterns for the area.
18. Identify disposal sites.
19. Review the soil report for unusual soil conditions on the site.
20. Review the project and construction methods for unsafe conditions.
21. Review the proposed construction method to identify activities that will have small quantities of
materials and thus lower the expected production rate of labor.
22. An analysis should be done for each area that is subcontracted to ensure that all items in the scope
of work are included.
some of the ways to identify risks associated with the estimating process.
1.Develop a procedure for checking for mathematical error.
2.Review for illegible handwriting.
3.Review the labor production, material, and equipment standards of the historical
data bank to identify items that are not clear on what is included in the standard.
4.Review the system for distribution of drawings and specifications to subcon
tractors and material suppliers. Only complete sets should be made available.
5.Review the estimating sheets for unnecessary calculations.
6.Review procedures for rounding off numbers.
7.Avoid scaling drawings.
8.Review the procedure for adding waste.
9.Review checklists and update as necessary to include areas that are not evident
from the project documents such as transportation costs, equipment requirements,
and storage costs.
10.Make sure that items are taken off from the correct drawings (i.e., structural
items should be taken off from the structural set of drawings).
11.Review the consistency of detail in the estimate.
12.Avoid the use of percentages.
13.Review the standardized forms used in the estimating process to eliminate any
procedural problems, and create standardized forms where none exist.
14.Review in detail all systems associated with estimating by computer. Estimating
by computer can have additional risks associated with the estimating process. It is
important for the company to provide training in the estimating software. The
estimator should thoroughly understand all aspects of the software before a
computerized estimate is submitted.
Contoh RAB
Metode Penapsiran Anggaran Biaya
Metode BOW (Burgelijke Openbare Werken) (metode empiris)

Prosedur :

a.Perhitungan
analisa harga
satuan pekerjaan
b.Analisa volume
pekerjaan
(Qtakeoff)
c.Tabulasi RAB
Diagram Proses Perhitungan RAB
Perhitungan Volume Pekerjaan
Perhitungan Koef. Harga Satuan Pekerjaan
 Perhitungan
Harga Satuan
Pekerjaan

Harga Pekekerjaan :
Vol x Harga Sat. Pek.
Harga Pekekerjaan :
Perhitungan
Vol x Harga Sat. Pek. Harga Satuan
Pekerjaan
Identifikasi
Macam
Pekerjaan
Identifikasi Macam Pekerjaan
Prinsip-prinsip perhitungan volume pekerjaan
Perhitungan
Analisa
Harga
Satuan
Pekerjaan
Bar Chart Schedule
Perhitungan Pekerjaan Tanah dan Pondasi
Perhitungan Pekerjaan Tanah dan Pondasi
Perhitungan Pekerjaan Tanah dan Pondasi