Precon Geeks

The way your client talks about their project is largely based on the experience you provide them with. Precon is their first impression. Estimators aren’t just number crunchers; they are also relationship builders. Your role in providing an exceptional client experience shouldn’t be undervalued.

Tamara Altom, Project Estimator at Benchmark Construction, joins John on this episode of Precon Geeks to discuss how precon teams can develop a successful relationship with clients.

Tamara says you are selling your company all the way through the project. So, how do you do that to win repeat work?

John and Tamara answer:

1.   What to ask a new client to build a trusting relationship.

2.  How to tell a project’s story through its lifecycle to the client in a way they understand.

3.  What you can do to make the client’s life easier.

It might come as a surprise but the subreddit for estimators is a great channel for precon folks to anonymously ask the tough and not so tough questions about estimating and precon life.

In this week’s episode, Suzanne asks John for his expert advice on some of the issues estimators are running into lately.

What does it mean to be a partner? Is the word meaningless?

How do you make your software vendor work for you?

John hosts Frank Dickenson, Customer Relationship Leader at Beck Technology, to discuss getting the most out of your software vendors.

For more resources on vendor/buyer relationships, read the following blog posts:

Beck Technology’s Precon World 2023 was held at the House of Blues, Dallas, Texas on Friday, October 13th. The event is for preconstruction professionals to get together and network, learn about the current and future of precon, and advance their knowledge of the DESTINI platform.

This year, our host of Precon Geeks, John Reich, along with Grant Stucker, MC’ed the event.

On this episode of Precon Geeks, John and Grant talk about their biggest takeaways and how the presenters at Precon World brought a lot of knowledge on the best practices in precon.

How do we solve this?

John hosts two titans of precon to take sides on using BIM for preconstruction. Based on a Beck Technology blog post, Jan Beran and Brent Pilgrim talk about how we can instill confidence in the model to standardize using it in precon.

Bad data costs businesses $12.9 trillion every year.

As an estimator, getting accurate data and mitigating risk is the majority of what you do. Using accurate data to make the best project decisions is key to winning jobs.

There are two types of data—historical and cost data. John and Jared talk about the importance of keeping you estimating data clean and offer advice on how and when to clean your data.

BIM.

Who is using it? How are they using? What are the roadblocks to using it? What does the future of BIM look like?

At last year's Precon World, Brent Pilgrim, National Director of Preconstruction at the Beck Group, asked who was using model-based estimating regularly—83% replied, ‘no.'

In this episode, John and Jared talk about how preconstruction departments have become experts as using BIM as a selling tool; however, there is so much more to 3D modeling.

Listen in and get John's opinion on where BIM is headed, and you will also get tips on where to find how to use BIM.

For more resources on BIM and model-based estimating, read the following blog posts:

Piggybacking on the episode You're Good Enough, You're Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like You when John and Jared talk about imposter syndrome, today the Precon Geeks talk about how you can learn how to estimate and how to learn to estimate better.

In our country, there aren’t many official avenues to learn how to create construction estimates, so how can you get into preconstruction with the confidence that you can do the job? How do you learn how to do it? How do you learn how to do more?

Our industry is so hands-on experienced based rather than getting schooling on how to do it that recent college grads and junior estimators tend to steer away from getting into precon. However, it is a highly rewarding career.

John uses his experience as a preconstruction manager to encourage listeners who are either new to estimating or considering getting into precon on how you can learn how to estimate construction projects.

We’ve come a long way, baby.

On this week’s episode of Precon Geeks, the preconstruction podcast made for estimators so we can geek out on all things precon, John and Jared discuss the evolution of how we’ve done preconstruction and how technology has impacted construction and particularly preconstruction.

John talks about his experience with the digital revolution and the evolution of takeoff and where construction technology is headed.

From looking back to how far we’ve come and where we’re headed, technology is making the industry and the world a better place.

You don’t want to miss this exciting episode!

Togal.AI CEO and founder, and Executive Vice President of Coastal Construction, Patrick E. Murphy, is John and Jared’s special guest this week.  

With 80% faster takeoffs, Togal.AI is takeoff software and integrates with DESTINI Estimator.

In this week’s electrifying episode, Patrick and the Geeks discuss the latest in A.I. and how’s it is being used in the construction industry, especially in precon.

You will also hear the benefits of AI, the revolutionary way Togal.AI is utilizing ChatGPT in its software and how the latest and innovative technology is advancing preconstruction.

How heated is it going to get?

It's a show down between U of L and U of K.

JUST KIDDING.

John and Jared host our own Allison Lewis, Beck Technology Learning and Development lead. Allison heads up all our training efforts for end users of the DESTINI suite of preconstruction software.

With a construction background, Allison is an expert in data management, process improvement, and standardizing operating procedures. In this episode, the Geeks talk about the importance of utilizing the resources your software vendor provides you to learn your new tools.

Allison talks about the typical gaps in implementing software and how to handle them, and the steps you can take to complete a successful software implementation.

While Jared is still riding solo for one more week, he hosts Beck Technology Implementation Specialist, Ted Solomon. Ted is our resident born and raised New Yorker. He came to Beck Tech with a civil engineering degree and a background in preconstruction, estimating, and field work. He’s deeply passionate about construction technology and sees how embracing emerging tech will help make the built environment better. In this episode, Ted talks about how to gather the best data from the field, how to use that data, and the coolest AR and VR that is being used in the construction industry.

Though Jared did not get a “strongly worded email” he DID get his Precon World 2023 dates wrong. On October 13th, join us at the badass House of Blues Dallas for an entire day of precon! There is a limited-seating special DESTINI Estimator hands-on training session the day before on October 12.

Burnout is a big deal. And precon is feeling it. In this episode, John and Jared address the question, "As an estimator, how do I care about everything?" John spent nearly 15 years in estimating and construction and knows well the pressures you can face. He gives advice on how to stay focused on your current job while also keeping your eyes on the future, and how to take care of yourself and prevent estimator burnout. This episode will be of particular interest to those who are new to estimating and preconstruction. We'd love to hear how you "care about everything," including yourself. Drop us a line!

Are y'all going to Advancing Preconstruction this year? If so, we can't wait to see you. Stop by booth 130 and meet Precon Geeks co-host John Reich! He'll be on hand to talk precon with you.

We’re also really excited to have our own Grant Stucker, Strategic Account Executive, present with Jason Fuhrmann, a senior estimator at Miron Construction on Thursday, May 25th at 2:25 p.m. They’ll be talking about estimating team alignment and how to focus on your team’s biggest risks and finding solutions to close the gaps. You won’t want to miss it.

On this week's episode, John and Jared talk about the upcoming Advancing Preconstruction conference and what you won't want to miss if you are attending.

Is AI taking over your job? In this episode, John and Jared ask CHATGPT for questions regarding AI and the construction industry. They also discuss how AI can help an estimator do their job…not how AI is taking over their job.

What are owners looking for in a general contractor? This week, John reveals what he’s learned about what owners are looking for and what you can do in precon to make owners trust you and win more projects. Hint: it involves transparency, differentiation, and sexy technology.

When was the last time you heard “good job?” Most feedback estimators receive is when you’ve gotten a number wrong. There is rarely any positive feedback in our profession. Also, preconstruction is unique in the construction industry because you need to be available to PMs in the field and to owners, which can require 12-hour + days.

There is the perception from the younger generations entering construction that preconstruction promotes a workaholic culture and that it is a profession that isn’t particularly rewarding.

How can we counter this stereotype?

John provides his expertise on how to counter the perception that precon isn’t rewarding in this episode of Precon Geeks.

Target Value Design is disrupting the traditional preconstruction process. Deriving from the design-build method and lean estimating construction practices, Target Value Design is a way for precon teams to get ahead of the work preventing change orders and budget overruns.

It is putting the precon process before the design process. It may make some estimators uncomfortable; however, working together with the design team creates a more efficient process and provides a higher value to owners.

John and Jared discuss what Target Value Design is and how estimators and preconstruction teams can incorporate it into their process in this episode of Precon Geeks.    

John and Jared talk with Beck Technology's President, Stewart Carroll. Stewart talks about how he got into construction and technology, both passions of his at a young age.

In this episode, you will learn how Stewart met Peter Beck, one of the founding members of Beck Technology, and how Beck Technology was started. Peter believed that if the construction industry could utilize technology in the preconstruction phase of a project, then better decisions could be made resulting in better quality outcomes. 

Revolutionize the industry...create the future!

John and Jared sit down to discuss the trends in precon in 2023. What are we hearing from clients? What are we experiencing in precon now post-COVID? You'll hear John's take on the cost of material escalation currently and how hybrid work environments are going to grow in the future. 

But what they really focus on in this episode is artificial intelligence (A.I.) and augmenting an estimators work for better outcomes. As John says, "no one wants to count widgets for the rest of their lives." There is a lot of game-changing tech coming out that is helping preconstruction teams make better, faster decisions and John and Jared discuss how embracing new technology can benefit precon teams. 

Howdy, we're Beck Technology and we make game-changing preconstruction software. Why are we launching a podcast now? Well, because there are so many neglected aspects of precon. We want to talk about what estimators AREN'T talking about. We'll interview industry insiders, techy folk, estimators, and precon professionals for their take on what's happening in the world of precon now and trends for the future. 

In this first episode, our hosts, John and Jared, discuss why we're launching a podcast, the type of discussions you'll hear on Precon Freaks, and why you should listen.