Here are links to published articles written by Don Kiper. Read, learn, and enjoy the information and grow in your position.
January 2023 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
How Estimators Can Avoid Costly Mistakes
Nine ways estimators leave time on the table..
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October 2022 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
Understanding Labor Hours and Labor Costs
Take a look at the labor components that will contribute to an accurate estimate..
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July 2022 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
Eight Timeless Estimating Principles
Don’t miss these time-proven tips from the pages of yesteryear.
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April 2022 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
Identifying Estimator Errors
An inside look at the most common mistakes estimators make and how to prevent them.
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January 2022 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
Getting the Bid Out on Time
Eight factors behind every quality bid that is submitted in a timely manner.
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November 2021 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
The Importance of Contract Documents in an Estimate
Become familiar with the documents that control every aspect of a project.
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September 2021 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
Understanding Project Labor Factors
Don’t underestimate this critical part of the estimating process.
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July 2021 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
How Healthy Is Your Estimating Department?
Monitor these four vital signs to determine your estimating department’s condition.
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April 2020 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
Making the Most of Your Pre-Bid Meeting and Site Visit
Although estimators can’t eliminate risks, those who follow these best practices can greatly reduce them.
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February 2020 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
How To Prepare a Proper Estimate
The key to estimate preparation is understanding the contract documents.
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December 2019 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
The Purpose of the Estimate
The intent of every electrical estimate means different things to different players in the process..
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October 2019 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
The Estimator vs. the Project Manager
To achieve the highest possible profits, this inseparable pair must work together.
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August 2019 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
The Estimating Department Checkup ― Part 3 of 3
In Part 3 we focus on estimating principles that will minimize mistakes and provide you with confidence on bid day.
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June 2019 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
The Estimating Department Checkup — Part 2 of 3
In Part 2 we focus on the chief estimator or the company officer who oversees the estimating department.
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April 2019 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
The Estimating Department Checkup — Part 1 of 3
Organization is the focus of the first of this three-part series.
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February 2019 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
Understanding Labor-Only Estimates
Learn why a reasonable percentage profit margin related to the risks being taken should always be included.
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December 2018 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
10 Principles for Submitting Better Bids
Follow these best practices to improve your company’s win ratio.
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October 2018 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
The Penalty for Not Training Your Estimators
Electrical contractors may pay a huge price on the estimating front by using employees who have not been properly trained to create estimates.
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August 2018 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
Understanding Labor – The Impact of Multiple Labor Factors
An electrical estimator must estimate and account for all project costs, both direct and indirect. The process of estimating should answer these three basic questions…
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June 2018 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
The Estimating Sequence – Part 3
In this third and final installment, we will look at the steps necessary to check the estimate that will bring confidence on bid day.
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April 2018 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
The Estimating Sequence – Part 2
An estimating sequence will give the estimator consistency . . .
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February 2018 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
The Estimating Sequence – Part 1
The Estimator must have a detailed step-by-step structure for estimating . . .
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January 2018 – Constructible by Trimble
Estimating and Bidding Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make: Part 1
Estimating mistakes are made during the takeoff process. Bidding mistakes are made in the summation and submission of the bid.
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December 2017 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
Why the Weekly Estimator’s Meeting is So Important
Why is a weekly meeting so vital to the success of an electrical contractor?
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October 2017 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
To Bid or Not to Bid
The electrical contractor must consider some important factors before deciding which project to bid.
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August 2017 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
How to Make a Good Estimate Even Better
When an estimator provides a quality successful low bid, the office atmosphere is filled with excitement. Now it’s time for management, the project manager, and the foreman to focus on making a profit.
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March 2017 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
The Estimator vs. the Take-Off Person
Finding the right person for your estimating department can be challenging. Whether you are looking for an estimator, chief estimator…
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January 2017 – Electrical Construction & Maintenance Magazine
The 10 Commandments of the Chief Estimator
Any electrical contractor’s opportunity for success begins with the estimating department. Estimating is expensive, poor estimating is costly, but quality estimating is profitable…
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