Time and Materials Bidding Basics
At 1:15 in
Q & A Decoding Estimates for Construction, Landscaping and Lawn care #3
What happens here
The instructor explains that for individuals new to tasks like grading, especially when using equipment such as a skid loader, the most secure initial bidding approach is a 'Time and Materials' (T&M) basis. He illustrates this with an example: a yard grading job (e.g., a 100x150 foot lot) might be estimated to take 10 hours of work. If the average hourly rate for a medium-sized Bobcat and operator is $85, the direct cost is $850. An additional two hours for transportation (to and from the job site) brings the total estimated cost to approximately $1000. This method ensures that all direct costs, including labor, equipment usage, and travel, are accounted for.
Goal: Learn to accurately calculate and present time and materials bids for new projects.
Tools and materials
- Calculator N/A — Computing total hours and costs for the bid
- Skid Loader — Performing grading work on job sites