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Will Distributors Have A Place in Tomorrow's World Source: Blogs
As subcontractors we buy the vast majority of our material through Distributors. The system was established well before my time and benefited almost everyone along the supply ch...

MEP Coordination: why it’s expensive to be cheap Source: Blogs
MEP Coordination: why it’s expensive to be cheap. You’re a contractor and you have been awarded a contract to do what your good at, build a building. You assemble a team to ma...

Keys to being a Great Estimator Source: Blogs
So what does it take to be a good estimator? Being great with numbers? Having a desire to color on drawings all day? There are a few key traits I have found in my career that ...

Tracking Productivity is the Key to Productivity Source: Blogs
Productivity is defined by economists as the amount of output per unit of labor. For example the number of light fixtures installed per labor hour worked. As a subcontractor I ...

Revit: An Asset or a Cool Cartoon? Source: Blogs
Revit: An Asset or a Cool Cartoon? According to Wikipedia, Autodesk Revit is architectural building information management (BIM) software for Microsoft Windows, developed by...

What Financial Reform Means for Construction Source: Blogs
The current Congress has passed the 2,300 page Financial Reform Bill which will have major impacts to the construction industry. After the 2008 elections there were three bills ...

Construction Production, What to Track Source: Blogs
In my last blog, I discussed the need to track productivity to increase the performance of the company which now comes up with the natural question: What do we track? It is actu...

This Bonus Sucks! Source: Blogs
Bonus programs can really suck. Whether you want to call them bonus or incentive programs almost every company has them, but if they are not administered properly they can reall...

How to Create Company Account Source: Help System
In order to utilize the paid services in Construction Monkey and to get the full benefits of some of the free services, you will need to set-up a Company Account. Company accoun...

Where is 2010 going? Source: Blogs
Well 2010 is finally here. It couldn't come quick enough with the difficulty and challenges we all had to deal with in 2009, it feels good to have a "fresh" start on a new year....

Bid Work? Risk Taker, Price Taker! Source: Blogs
If you are bidding work out there, you are going to be a price taker and not a price setter. In fact throughout the construction industry whether it is bidding, negotiated, time...

So What Does the Project Manager Do Anyway? Source: Blogs
At the expense of offending Project Managers as wells as the Monkey: A woman was looking at the animals on display in a pet store. A few minutes later, a man walked in and sai...

News U Can Use: Feb.3.2010 Source: Blogs
In a new weekly installment, we will be scanning the news sources to find the most interesting news items for contractors and summarize what it means to them. For our Februrary ...

Increase Profits, Minimize Risk Source: Blogs
What is the best way for a contractor to improve their profits? Minimize risk. Let's face it, contracting is another form of gambling. When we look at all of the stipulations ...

Dashboard Source: Advertisements
...n one page: Upcoming Bids Pre-Construction Team Leader (PTL) on each project Estimator on each project Bid Dates Project Names Project Locations Which office/profit center is bidding ...

Differences Between Accounts Source: Help System
In utilizing Construction Monkey there are two specific types of accounts: A user account, which is a unique account for each user. A company account which is a unique accoun...

I forgot my username and/or password! Source: Help System
No need to worry if you forgot your username and/or your password...we'll get you back to your account in no time! Here's how: Click on the "Lost Password?" link below the si...

A Tale of Two Boats Source: Blogs
By now most of us have seen the change order and contract boat image that has been circulating around the internet over the past several years. The big boat is rightly called th...

Subcontractor: Projecting 2010 Part 4 Source: Blogs
Well, we are almost done. We have now compiled all of our revenue and gross margin amounts for our 2010 year. You should have a spreadsheet that has totals that mirrors the fol...

Contract Sales: How to Understand Your Performance Source: Blogs
Last week we bid a few jobs. This week we bid a few jobs. Next week we will bid a few jobs. I am sure we all know which ones we won and which ones are lost, but do we really k...

Life of An Estimator, Tougher than You Think Source: Blogs
For those of us in the construction industry we know the Estimators that are more cynical than the average Joe. They appear to be more prevalent than the fun loving young estima...

Risk Mangement, What is Your Role? Source: Blogs
In construction, talk to anyone about the single greatest challenge in surviving in the industry and it is risk. "Based on the risk, add more profit to it." "I am not goi...

What Can the Rig Disaster Teach a Subcontractor? Source: Blogs
Last month a terrible accident happened aboard the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, killing 11 workers on the platform and creating an oil leak that is still no fully contained. The i...

New Year, Let's Accomplish Something! Source: Blogs
No matter where you sit in your organization I would like for you to take a different look at your job duties. Over the years the titles for different positions have become pret...

What Makes a Specialty Contractor so Special? Source: Blogs
In construction there are the general trades and then the infamous specialty subcontractors. Ever think what is so special about the specialty trades? The construction industry...

Can The Monkey Help You? Source: Advertisements
Construction Monkey is an innovative tool that will be able to assist you in your daily work life. Whether you are a Project Manager, Superintendent, Field Installer, or the Own...

Basic Site Navigation Source: Help System
Below are some basic navigation functions of Construction Monkey. Home Screen To access your home screen at any time, just click the Construction Monkey logo in the upp...

How do I change my account information? Source: Help System
To change your account information at any time, please complete the following steps: Sign in to your account on the top right of the page. If you are already signed in, skip ...

How will I be charged for a service? Source: FAQ
How will I be charged for a service

Do you have a referral program? Source: FAQ
Do you have a referral program

As Built CheckList Source: Library Forms
... Update Changes to Receptacles. ...

We are selling Trust, That's It! Source: Blogs
In the previous part to this series, I made the claim that customers look towards the subcontractors to find the best "expert" in the field (or group of them) and then select fro...

Subcontractor Projecting 2010: Part 2 Source: Blogs
In Part 1, we talked about how to start coming up with a realistic look at 2010 by looking at your continual or flow work. In this part, let's take a look at the next part of th...

Subcontractor: Projecting 2010 Part 3 Source: Blogs
In Part 1 and Part 2, we looked at projecting the flow work and the backlog, now to get a total picture of 2010, we need to look at work we don't have yet, our pipeline. The pip...

Sustainable Yes! LEED be Careful Source: Blogs
When LEED was introduced it became a revolution in the construction industry changing the way Owners, Designers, and Builders approached jobs. The major objective was to create ...

Revit: No Place for Amateurs Source: Blogs
Revit: No Place for Amateurs Let us look at the typical building information modeling services firm and how things are done. Typically, a CAD manager is hired to create all of...

MEP Coordination: It’s Expensive to be Cheap Source: Blogs
MEP Coordination: It’s Expensive to be Cheap. You’re a contractor and you have been awarded a contract to do what your good at, build a building. You assemble a team to manage...

Construction News U Can Use: 2.24.2010 Source: Blogs
Some of the more interesting news from around the Construction Industry: Margin Pressure Will Worsen for Nonresidential Contractors Reed Construction Data is reporting that ...

Customer Service, It is About the Little Things Source: Blogs
Customer service in a service industry is the key to success. As specialty contractors, the service we provide is sometimes the only thing that makes us different than our compe...

What Makes A Good Estimate? Source: Blogs
Construction companies stand on three (3) pillars that define good business; Get Work, Do Work, and Monitor Work. If all three of them are done correctly and efficiently than th...

Can Contractors Change? Source: Blogs
The past two years have been the worst global economic times in more than a generation and it is anyone's guess if we are coming out of it or if there are more challenges ahead. ...

What Does The Monkey Offer? Source: Advertisements
Looking to better your edge in your market or industry? Give Construction Monkey a try! Construction Monkey was created to fill the void of having preconstruction, sales, and p...

FREE Tickets to the Electric West Show in Vegas! Source: Advertisements
Dear Construction Monkey Users, The Construction Monkey team would like to invite you to Register for the Exhibit Hall FREE (a $55 value) at the Electric Wes...

Referral Program Source: Advertisements
Think Construction Monkey is a great solution? Want to earn your way towards free services? Receive a $20 credit towards your account for every company you refer for each servi...

Reports Source: Advertisements
A slew of reports to help manage your subcontracting business: Bid List View just the projects that are upcoming or potential bids! Filter the data by: Team ...

What Can You Do with Project Experience? Source: Help System
The Project Experience service provides you with some in depth easy tools to dive deep into your current and past work which will enable you to understand your subcontracting bus...

What Are the Security Access Levels? Source: Help System
Construction Monkey comes with the ability to provide each user who participates in a company with a specific role that will limit their ability to view and/or change information...

What can I see/do on my Contract Dashboard? Source: Help System
...d Changes Past Due Upcoming (nearing due date) # of Outstanding Changes Written Past Due Average Days Outstanding (DSO) Financial #s Original Contract Value Change Orders Value Current Contr...

What can I see/do on my project's RFI Log Source: Help System
Your project RFI Log is the place to go to view the status of all of your RFIs for an individual project. How do I access my project's RFI Log? click here What can I do her...

How do I create and email an RFI to my client? Source: Help System
To create and send and email an RFI to your client: One way: Log in to your account at the top right of the screen. Click on the Project Management button on the left sid...

How secure is my information? Source: FAQ
How secure is my information

How reliable is the service? Source: FAQ
How reliable is the service

Daily Inspection Form Source: Library Forms
...

Boating from an Owner's Perspective Source: Blogs
If you read the first part of this series, you have looked at the photo of two boats and hopefully gained a different perspective about the photo that has been circulating around...

Need a Safety Program? Try a Culture First. Source: Blogs
As one of the most dangerous industries on the planet, construction focuses significantly on safety. Our industry is focused on the health and safety of our tradesmen and for go...

Why BIM? Source: Blogs
So why would anyone BIM, or Building Information Modeling? Unless you are doing a power plant or some very specialized industrial job, our guys in the field can work things out,...

Construction Customer Service Source: Blogs
In my last installment I talked about performance in relation to holding people accountable for what they accomplish and not what they do. Let's look at the bigger picture of wh...

Is the Economy Affecting Your Ethics? Source: Blogs
Contracting is a tough business. Our industry has a reputation among the community of having little or no ethics. That reputation is earned due to our poor communication, but d...

Construction News U Can Use 2.10.2010 Source: Blogs
Construction related news that you might of missed and can help you in your business. Mobile Data Traffic: 3.6 Billion Gigabytes a Month by 2014 All things Digital is reporti...

Construction: My Valentine Source: Blogs
As I sit here and package up chocolates for the wife and hope she got me that hoodie-footie I have been seeing so much on TV, I have been thinking about my 2nd love Construction....

national sales director Source: Blogs
we unveiled anew product for NYC agencies this week and had immediate sucess. we are ending walkthroughs in construction by having the jobs on line with full panoramic videos wi...

Is PM software a Waste of Money? Source: Blogs
Almost every construction company out there sees the value in Estimating software and utilizes some form of it. I will agree that not every company is utilizing a specifically d...

Construction: The Lost Decade Source: Blogs
Yesterday the Department of Commerce came out with the July 2010 construction numbers and the current state of affairs is not very attractive. The numbers represent the seasonal...

Want to Win Better Projects? Source: Blogs
Given the turmoil in the marketplace over the past 2 years, I have heard repeatedly from different contractors that they are looking to move into different markets. We need to...

The 5 W's Source: Advertisements
Who is it for? - The Bid/Sales Management system is for the entire specialty contractor community. More specifically, it is meant for your company’s preconstruction depar...

Overview Source: Advertisements
As contractors, you have so much to do that it becomes a challenge staying on top of all the tasks you have to accomplish. Construction Monkey has integrated a task mana...

Creating a New User Account Source: Help System
In order to create a new user account, follow these instructions: Click the create new user account link at the top right below the login or click here. As the new page com...

Why would Add A Project Only (With no Estimate)? Source: Help System
If you have tooled around with the Pipeline tool, you have noticed that you can enter a project without an estimate. So why would you want to do such a thing? If you are mana...

Project Experience Map Source: Help System
The Project Experience Map allows you to view the various reports created utilizing the Project Experience tool on a geographic map. On the report there are three areas of inter...

How do I add a new post? Source: Help System
To add a new post to share with others, please complete the following steps: Create a user account. Click here to learn about creating a user account. If you already have an...

What electrical calculations are available on Construction Monkey? Source: Help System
View all of the electrical calculations that we offer by watching our short YouTube video. All calculations are free when you create a free user account! Construction Monkey'...

What can I see/do on my Project Management Dashboard? Source: Help System
Your Project Management Dashboard is your main PM page where you can view and access all of the projects you have entered into the Project Management system. How do I access m...

What can I see/do on my Document Dashboard? Source: Help System
Your Document Dashboard shows a list of all of your projects where you view a list of documents for each project at a glance. How do I access my Document Dashboard? click her...

What can I see/do on my RFI Dashboard? Source: Help System
Your RFI Dashboard shows a list of all of your projects where you view a list of RFIs for each project at a glance. How do I access my RFI Dashboard? click here What can I...

What can I see/do on my Project Dashboard? Source: Help System
Your Project Dashboard shows the details of an individual project at a quick glance. How do I access my Project Dashboard for one of my projects? click here What can I do ...

What can I see/do on my Project Documents page? Source: Help System
Your Project Documents page shows the details of an individual project's documents at a quick glance. How do I access my Project Documents? click here What can I do here? ...

How do I add a drawing set to a project? Source: Help System
To add a drawing set to one of your projects, you can do it a couple of different ways: One way: Log in to your account at the top right of the screen. Click on the Proje...

What can I see/do on my Project's Drawing Set List? Source: Help System
Your Drawing Set List shows all of the drawing sets associated with your project at a quick glance. How do I access my project's Drawing Set List? click here What can I do...

How do I access my project's Drawing Set List? Source: Help System
To get to your Project's Drawing Set List, you can do it one of couple different ways: One way: Log in to your account at the top right of the screen. Click on the Projec...

What can I see/do on my project's RFI Dashboard? Source: Help System
Your project's RFI Dashboard shows all RFIs of a particular project at a quick glance. How do I access my project's RFI Dashboard? click here What can I do here? View a...

How do I access my project's RFI Log Source: Help System
To get to your project's RFI Log, you can do it one of a couple different ways: One way: Log in to your account at the top right of the screen. Click on the Project Manag...

What can I see/do on my project's Contract Dashboard? Source: Help System
Your Project Contract Dashboard shows your individual project's current contract value with all executed change orders as well as items that need to be priced or waiting to be ex...

How do I access my project's Contract Dashboard? Source: Help System
To get to your project's Contract Dashboard, you can do it one of a couple of different ways: One way: Log in to your account at the top right of the screen. Click on the...

What can I see/do on my project's Pricing Log? Source: Help System
Your project's pricing log shows you a list of every scope modification you have entered for an individual project. How do I access my project's Pricing Log? click here Wh...

How do I access my project's Pricing Log? Source: Help System
To get to your project's Pricing Log, you can do it one of a couple of different ways: One way: Log in to your account at the top right of the screen. Click on the Projec...

What can I see/do on my project's Change Order Log? Source: Help System
Your project's change order log shows you a list of all executed change orders for an individual project. How do I access my project's Change Order Log? click here What ca...

How do I access my project's Change Order Log? Source: Help System
To get to your project's Change Order Log, you can do it one of a couple of different ways: One way: Log in to your account at the top right of the screen. Click on the P...

How do I add a Pricing Item to a project? Source: Help System
A Pricing Item can be added automatically or manually. A Pricing Item is automatically added when you check the "Yes" box stating that RFI has a cost impact when creating or ans...

Constructive Change Notice Source: Library Letters
We have received your directive to . You should note that this work is not presently within the scope of our contract, and, therefore, we will require additional compensation. ...

Order to Stop Work Source: Library Letters
We bid this project based on your having the work on the project in such condition that on , we could start our work in the and continue work uninterrupted until its conclusion ...

Order Not to Start Work Source: Library Letters
We bid this project based on your having the work on the project in such condition that on , we could start our work in the and continue work uninterrupted until its conclusion ...

Submittal of CPM Schedule or Network Analysis Source: Library Letters
Enclosed is our network analysis for the above referenced project and the various items of work shown on the enclosed are not commitments but are estimates only based on conditio...

Notice of Mistake in Bid Source: Library Letters
This will confirm our telephone conversation on , in which I gave notice to and advised you of the existence of a mistake in our bid submitted on this project. The mistake invol...

Notice of Mistake in Bid and Request Withdraw Source: Library Letters
This will confirm our telephone conversation on , in which I gave notice to and advised you of the existence of a mistake in our bid submitted on this project. The mistake invol...

So What is BIM? Source: Blogs
Building Information Modeling (or BIM) is all the rage in today's commercial and industrial construction markets. I am unaware of many large General Contractors that haven't inv...

Cap and Trade, What to Expect Source: Blogs
With Copenhagen behind us and health care on the ropes, will Cap and Trade be on the block? The US House of Representatives have passed a bill, but the Senate has not taken it u...

Quality Control, Be in Control Source: Blogs
When you ask Owners what their top priorities for their next construction project, quality control is always near the top if not at the top. With the slow down in the economy th...

What Value Do You Add? Source: Blogs
In any economy and in any service industry, there is a very fair question: "What Value Do You Add?". This question goes for companies and employees and in this economy it become...

Is there More Work with ObamaCare? Source: Blogs
Three months ago, I took a stab at what I thought ObamaCare meant to Subcontractors. In reviewing that after passage, I still agree with my thoughts in that article. I did not ...

Will Hiring A Safety Manager Matter? Source: Blogs
The vast majority of subcontractors in the country do not have a dedicated Safety Manager, so will hiring one make a difference? Short answer, yes. The real answer is much long...

Be A Master in Construction Source: Blogs
Where are the true Masters in Construction? I am not talking about those that have ventured out to get a Masters License in their prospective trade, I mean real masters. Americ...

The Art of Estimating Source: Blogs
Sun Tzu wrote the Art of War in the 6th Century BC. Since that time military experts have considered it a complete view on how to operate a military machine and business scholar...

Do You Know What You Are Building? Source: Blogs
In today's world of CADD, fast track projects, out sourcing, reduced design staffs, it is impossible to get through a project with at least a dozen new sets of drawings and hundr...

Best Way to Win that Next Project Source: Blogs
It appears as if the market is recovering (at least there are more projects out there to be bidding on), so how can you win that work to turn it from an opportunity to revenue? ...

Interesting News 7.27.2010 Source: Blogs
Some of the news over the past few days that we found interesting:Report: UnitedHealth nears $1.5B acquisitionOn Tuesday, July 27, 2010 National Business News - Local Business Ne...

Is ObamaCare Good for Subcontractors? Source: Blogs
Even though the health debate is not yet over and the full scope of health care reform is not known (or even if there will be reform), I think it is important to look at how it c...

Three Most Important Things to Being A Contractor Source: Blogs
In retail and real estate there goes a saying that the three most important things are location, location, and location. In construction there is a similar truth that the three ...

How to Create More Construction Jobs Source: Blogs
The biggest single thing on the minds of the American public is jobs. With unemployment over 10% and the possibility of that rising to 12% this year, it is a very real concern. ...

Best and Final Offer, Are They Ethical? Source: Blogs
If you have been involved in bidding work you have probably at one point in time been apart of the Best and Final Offer (BAFO) routine. In private work it is typically called "s...

Cost Control is Construction's #2 Rule Source: Blogs
In Construction the #1 rule is safety. Without the principal of safety, the things we build and the people we employ will not be around once we finish. I hope that fact is not ...

Where Have the Good Craftsmen Gone? Source: Blogs
One of the largest complaints I hear is "the quality of the workforce is not what it used to be". Whether I am talking to union or non-union, family owned or large business, the...

Project Experience Wins New Work Source: Advertisements
How important is it to track and know your past project experience? Many projects are awarded based upon your knowledge of the type of project you are bidding on. You...

Task Management Source: Advertisements
As contractors, you have so much to do that it becomes a challenge staying on top of all of the tasks you have to accomplish. Construction Monkey has an integrated task manageme...

Project Management Made Simple! Source: Advertisements
Use our PM Service to simplify Project Management! Manage your projects easier with Construction Monkey! The Project Management Service allows you to: Improve Comm...

How will it help me? Source: Advertisements
Win more work! - The tools to focus your strategy among: Estimators Business Development Professionals Pre-Construction Personnel Operational Resources Save Time! ...

Project Detail Source: Advertisements
All of the details of your project and more: Project Hit Ratio Instantly know your chances of getting this project based upon your prior performance on simila...

Customers Source: Advertisements
Automatically track your success with your customers: List of Customers Quickly view a list of customers! - designated as Target, Listed, or Non-listed custom...

Projections Source: Advertisements
The projection system will allow you to develop your business plan and finalize your future work based upon your existing workload and your pipeline: Future Outl...

How will it help me? Source: Advertisements
Win more work! - Spend less time figuring out and creating your project resume on proposals, and more time concentrating on the details of the estimate! Know exactly how...

Project Detail Source: Advertisements
All of the details of your project and more: Similar Projects – Instantly see which projects are similar to the one you are viewing! Project Details – Project Name, C...

Reports Source: Advertisements
A slew of reports to help manage your subcontracting business: Full Experience List – Includes every project, completed and work-in-progress Completed Projects List ...

The 5 W's Source: Advertisements
Who is it for? - The Project Management system is for the entire specialty contractor community. More specifically, it is meant for your company’s Project Managers, Super...

Overview Source: Advertisements
Do you need to do some calculations and want a simple tool to make that possible? Construction Monkey has the calculation tools you are looking for! From calculating th...