A guide to estimating?
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I’ve been doing bodywork for several years and rarely getting involved in the administration portions. Recently I’ve been asked about doing the metal work for some side work on older cars and trucks. I’ve always just did the work without really knowing the financial end of things and was wondering what sort of estimating guides might be available on older vehicles. Is there any sort of repair guide for metal patch work (either glued or welded), fiberglass repairs, etc? I also need information on priming & painting.
Are there any older car/truck estimating solutions out there? I’ve been searching the internet, but all I find are software programs. I’m not looking at spending too much, rather maybe for actual books, their still available. Any help would be appreciated.i would think the type of work that you describe, would be based purely on opinion time.
Opinion time is a time based on one’s opinion of how long it takes to carry out the repair.
I.E. You could have a repairable dent on a rear quarter panel, take it to three bodyshops.
Each bodyshop would estimate in their opinion how long to carry out the repair, and you would most likely have three different prices.
the paint and material price [b]should be the same[/b] at each shop but the labour time would probaly be different
I get the differences between shops. Is there a definitive guide to replacing fenders, quarter panels, doors & door skins, with regards to suggested labor times? I don’t wish to have to buy a laptop and software for estimating. Just looking for a estimating manual to give out reference times to do repairs.
My boss uses a software called CCC, but the company buys the product and he says they do so by the month. I don’t need anything that costly.If it’s available try the mitchell estimating books purcase one and it will get you through but as far as estimating repair times on dents etc it is a matter of opinion of estimater
hope this helps
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