Hello and welcome to season 2 episode 6 of the six-figure tradesman podcast. Today I am going to go over 10 simple yet extremely effective tips to ensure that every bid you submit requires less anxiety and zero mistakes.How many of us have submitted a bid in the past only to realize tier is a mistake on the proposal? I know in the early years I sure di! And when I was managing a national mechanical outsourcing firm I was tasked with developing systems and procedures to eliminate this issue for a team of more than 30 estimators. Sometimes they would forget to include or exclude items, maybe they forgot a quoted item because they hadn’t received a price from the suppliers, or maybe in the worst-case scenario you noticed a typo in your bid total. Regardless of what mistakes you may have made in the past, I can give you some sound advice on how to prevent it from ever happing again. As I  always say it’s about developing a system that you can integrate into your estimating department so you can operate efficiently and virtually mistake-proof. The final 2 hours before the bid deadline is absolutely the most stressful time for any project estimator so developing systems that are implemented on every single bid no matter how small or how large will reduce those stress levels tremendously.  Without further ado, let’s jump right into these 10 steps so you can begin implementing these today. 10 step final pre-bid checklist - Every one of these items must be completed ON BID DAY even if completed already in advance. last minute check for an addendum - be sure you include # addenda on the proposalFinal prices from all suppliersBe sure the scope letter says “proposal”Final check of all the includes and excludes Final check for bidding GC’s to submit to and tips to make them want your bidFinal check of your spreadsheet labor unitsFinal check of your spreadsheet sub-contractorsFinal check of spreadsheet quoted materialsFinal adjustment of OH&PMake sure the proposal includes the dollar amount in numbers and in written formatIf you haven&apos;t subscribed yet please do so now so you can be alerted every time a new episode is released. I release a new podcast every week packed full of practical advice and tips.Leave some feedback below about your thoughts on this episode. The Six-Figure Tradesman Podcast is here to help you with your venture as a mechanical estimating service.Do you want or need some additional coaching or education? Check out www.sixfiguretradesman.com for tons of additional information to help you start, grow, and manage your mechanical estimating business or internal estimating team. Support the show (https://pod.fan/six-figure-tradesman)

Six-Figure Tradesman

10 Step Final Pre-bid Checklist

In this episode, I will share with you 5 ways I have increased my bid win ratio. By implementing these 5 simple steps you can develop a bidding strategy that is tailored to your specific business model and increase your chances of winning more projects. If you haven&apos;t subscribed yet please do so now so you can be alerted every time a new episode is released. I release a new podcast every week packed full of practical advice and tips. Leave some feedback below about your thoughts on this episode. The Six-Figure Tradesman Podcast is here to help you with your venture as a mechanical estimating service. Do you want or need some additional coaching or education? Check out www.sixfiguretradesman.com for tons of additional information to help you start, grow, and manage your mechanical estimating business or internal estimating team. Support the show (https://pod.fan/six-figure-tradesman)

5 Steps To Win More Project Bids

In this episode, I give you my 5 top reasons why I choose FastEST mechanical estimating software. FastEST, Inc. has created FastDUCT, FastPIPE, and FastWRAP to assist in the mechanical bidding process for HVAC, Plumbing, Hydronic, and Mechanical Insulation contractors since 1995.  I have been using their software since 2007 in the outsource estimating industry to serve my clients and have had nothing but success with utilizing all of their products. I will explain in detail why these guys are the best value for you as well. FastEST-Inc website link:  https://fastest-inc.com/Six Figure Tradesman LLC educational website:  https://sixfiguretradesman.com/If you haven&apos;t subscribed yet please do so now so you can be alerted every time a new episode is released. I release a new podcast every week packed full of practical advice and tips. Leave some feedback below about your thoughts on this episode. The Six-Figure Tradesman Podcast is here to help you with your venture as a mechanical estimating service. Do you want or need some additional coaching or education? Check out www.sixfiguretradesman.com for tons of additional information to help you start, grow, and manage your mechanical estimating business. Support the show (https://pod.fan/six-figure-tradesman)

5 Reasons FastEST Estimating Software Is My Favorite Take-Off Software

S2 E3 of the Six FigureTradesman podcast will dig into the top reasons companies both large and small hire outsource estimators to help them with their bidding process. And if you are thinking of starting your own outsource estimating business this should help guide you to a marketing plan.  Many entrepreneurs who are thinking there may not be enough demand for an outsource estimator. But the truth is the need is higher than ever and there&apos;s always room for the best estimators to gain there share of the market.  We will discuss how smaller companies, or companies who have always been primarily residential in the past but want to move to commercial work, will often turn to a reputable outsource estimating service to guide them on the bidding process. We look at the temporary workflow many companies have for outsourcing mechanical estimators. For various reasons, many companies need to hire out the estimating and these estimating firms are used on a daily basis for temporary reasons to keep the bid process moving forward. One of any number of internal issues can cause a bottleneck and outsource estimators are the salvation for many companies.  If you haven&apos;t subscribed yet please do so now so you can be alerted every time a new episode is released. I release a new podcast every week packed full of practical advice and tips. Leave some feedback below about your thoughts on this episode. The Six-Figure Tradesman Podcast is here to help you with your venture as a mechanical estimating service. Do you want or need some additional coaching or education? Check out www.sixfiguretradesman.com for tons of additional information to help you start, grow, and manage your mechanical estimating business. https://sixfiguretradesman.com/Support the show (https://pod.fan/six-figure-tradesman)

Top 5 Reasons Companies Hire Outsource Mechanical Estimators

Season 2 Episode 2 digs into how you can build a website that will get your Mechanical Outsource Estimating Service (AKA MOES) Noticed.  With new companies coming online in the estimating sectors you need to make your website gets you noticed and produces the results you expect. Not all websites are created equal and have an equal purpose. Some are developed to only be informative so web searchers can locate things like your contact info and social links. Others are developed to generate leads that inside sales can utilize to close more sales. And then there are some who are more robust and were designed to provide viewers with all the knowledge they need to make an informed decision and even close the deal.  There is no one website purpose that is right for all. You need to understand what you want your website to deliver before you even begin building it. It makes no sense to build a lead generation website if all you need is for is to provide basic contact info and social links for the people who are searching for you. Nor does it make sense to build a contact only website and expect it to drive leads to your inbox. It just won&apos;t happen. You get out what you put in. Regardless of the website&apos;s purpose, you need to always be online so choosing a trusted host with a server with a 99.9% uptime guarantee. Almost all reputable companies have this guarantee. The providers like Godaddy, HostGator, Bluehost are just a few of the larger names. I think with a little research you can find one that fits your needs as long as you know what you are expecting from them. Some hosts don&apos;t offer much in the way of website building tools and templates. Several are just a hosting service so you would need the ability to build the website yourself using a WordPress theme that can be easily built out the way you want it. Or if you&apos;re great at coding you can go all out with a fully custom site. This goes back to knowing what you need your website to deliver. Based on your needs you may need extensive coding capabilities or you will have to hire someone.   Always be sure to keep your updated company info on your website. If you change your phone, fax, or email address be sure to change this on your website immediately. There is nothing worse than a potential customer wanting to contact you but the contact info is incorrect.  Add an intro video on your homepage. If you notice that the popular social trend now is video format then why wouldn&apos;t that become the new trend for building a website? Its obvious people prefer to see things visually rather than read. So make by developing some great video for your website you should expect more engagement from prospects. Get yourself or someone from your company on camera.  People do business with people they like so use that human connection in your first point of contact with them. Do the same for the testimonial you get. If you can&apos;t get a video testimonial then get someone who looks good and sounds good on video to read the testimonial so you can post it to your site. Maybe have that person read several of the written testimonials in one short video clip. here is the absolute must bullet point for your website. If you take nothing else from this podcast be sure you understand the importance of delivering the solution to your prospects. Every website they view is going to say things like "we can help save you money" or "we can increase your production". This is so common on every website these days it makes as much of an impact as saying "we&apos;re the best". What I hear when this is your website is blah blah blah. I put no thought into this website and I just want you to hire me so I can get your money.  Tell them what sets you apart. What do you do that your competition isn&apos;t doing?  Do you offer expedited serviceSupport the show (https://pod.fan/six-figure-tradesman)

How to build an awesome MOES website

6 Reasons to start an estimating business now explains why today may be the best time to start your business. Season 2 kicks off discussing the 6 reasons why I think right now is the best time for you to start your own estimating business. Often times the success of a business has to do with when the launch occurs and if you launch a new business when conditions are best for success then you have a higher probability of success. Starting a business like an outsource estimating business can be fairly and inexpensive and I will discuss this along with a few other things n this episode.  Based on the current economy and recent events I believe now is a great time to begin your business as an outsource estimator. Listen as I explain 6 reasons why I feel this way. If you haven&apos;t subscribed yet please do so now so you can be alerted every time a new episode is released. I release a new podcast every week packed full of practical advice and tips. Leave some feedback below about your thoughts on this episode. The Six-Figure Tradesman Podcast is here to help you with your venture as a mechanical estimating service. Do you want or need some additional coaching or education? Check out www.sixfiguretradesman.com for tons of additional information to help you start, grow, and manage your mechanical estimating business. There are several FREE online courses for you to enjoy at your leisure.Support the show (https://pod.fan/six-figure-tradesman)

6 Reasons to start an estimating business now

This Quick Tip Tuesday episode talks about how you can find commercial projects to bid for your mechanical business. Regardless if you are a residential mechanical contractor wanting to switch to commercial projects or you are just starting your HVAC, Plumbing or Electrical business and want to jump straight into commercial work this episode will guide you on how to find those projects. Locating commercial projects to bid is much easier with today's technology.Show Notes:Online Plan Rooms·       Isqft.com·       Bidclerk.com·       Smartbid.co·       Planhub.com·       Bidplanroom.comVisit www.sixfiguretradesman.com for more great information about how you can become the best mechanical estimator possible. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a comment below. You can also reach out with any questions you may have by emailing them to sixfiguretradesman@gmail.com 

Finding Mechanical Projects To Bid

 Season 1 Episode 7 discusses how you can start your own mechanical estimating business in just 8 simple steps. If you are an HVAC, Plumbing, or Electrician who wants to create your own path to financial freedom then this episode explains what steps are necessary to begin a business of your own estimating commercial projects for other companies. And this can all be done from the convenience of your own home.  If you have experience working in the commercial mechanical trades and know how to read a blueprint then this is could be the perfect career for you. If you want in-depth guidance I offer a course that walks you through each step. you can check it out here  https://sixfiguretradesman.teachable.com/purchase?product_id=2437097Visit www.sixfiguretradesman.com for more great information about how you can become the best mechanical estimator possible. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and leave me a comment below. You can also reach out with any questions you may have by emailing them to sixfiguretradesman@gmail.com Support the show (https://pod.fan/six-figure-tradesman)

8 Steps To Start Your Own Mechanical Estimating Business

Learn what post bid results tracking is and why it's so important to do. Also, get some great tips on how to ask for these results from the GC's in a way favorable to them actually supplying them to you. Regardless if you bid commercial projects or residential work the principles are all the same still apply equally. Constantly bidding projects without bid results is like just tossing darts to see what you get. Visit www.sixfiguretradesman.com for more great information about how you can become the best mechanical estimator possible. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a comment below. You can also reach out with any questions you may have by emailing them to sixfiguretradesman@gmail.com 

What Bid Results Tracking Is And Why It's so Important.

I give a detailed description of what a mechanical estimator is and what they do. I also discuss what outsource mechanical estimators are utilized for. 

What is an outsource mechanical estimating service and what do they do.

In Episode 4 I will discuss the importance of being ethical in your outsource estimating business and I will discuss some real-life examples of why ethics are so important to your success. 

Ethics Of Outsource Estimating

Jamie will share 5 daily habits he implements to increase his bidding production.  By implementing these 5 new habits your day will run smoother and allow you to get more work done in the same amount of time or less. 

5 Daily Habits To Increase Your Bidding Production

The Six-Figure Tradesman host Jamie Henry will discuss how you can set your estimating business apart from your competition. In today&apos;s competitive market you need your potential clients to see you&apos;re not like all the other mechanical estimating businesses out there. You need an edge when marketing yourself on your website, in social media and in any other format you might utilize to promote your estimating business. If all the time and money you spend on marketing and advertising sound like everyone else then why are they going to remember you? Listen as I help you rebrand your awesome outsource estimating business so you can be at the top of everyone&apos;s mind when they go looking for mechanical estimating services. Almost everything I discuss and explain is things I have personally implemented in my own business ventures. I am giving you real-world advice from someone who has been there. Things we will discuss in this episode include:How to give your marketing a unique voice.Tips to make your website stand out.Why you MUST write blogs to promote yourself Once you listen to this episode I am sure you will have a better understanding of how to market yourself. The competition all sounds the same so you need to find a new way to deliver the same old message. Potential clients need to see are more than qualified but that you also are an innovator. And if you take the 25 minutes to listen to what I have to say I am sure you can walk away with some new ideas about how you can reinvent your brand and begin to increase your client base. I also touch on some old-school ways of marketing yourself that you may find are very effective. If you haven&apos;t subscribed yet please do so now so you can be alerted every time a new episode is released. I release a new podcast every Wednesday packed full of practical advice and tips. Leave some feedback below about your thoughts on this episode. I read through all the posts on each episode so I can deliver a podcast you want to listen too. The Six-Figure Tradesman Podcast is here to help you will your venture as an outsource estimating service. Do you want or need some additional coaching or education? Check out www.sixfiguretradesman.com for tons of additional information to help you start, grow and manage your mechanical estimating business. There are several FREE online courses for you enjoy at your leisure. Plus, I have some fantastic blogs here you can read also about all things concerning the future of your estimating business. Support the show (https://pod.fan/six-figure-tradesman)

How your estimating business can stand out

In this episode, I will describe what a MOE stands for and why this industry is growing rapidly. Mechanical Outsource Estimating is becoming commonplace in the industry these days and now is the time to get in. Support the show (https://pod.fan/six-figure-tradesman)

What is a MOE and why is it on the rise?

Six-Figure Tradesman is dedicated to teaching skilled mechanical tradesman to become outsource estimators. HVAC, plumbing and electrical tradesman make for great estimators. Many of the podcast will offer free advice and guidance on how to start, grow and manage you're mechanical outsource estimating business. My goal is to educate you, motivate you and help you become a better version of yourself.

hubhopper

Six-Figure Tradesman

hubhopper