---
id: mike-holts-illustrated-guide-to-electrical-estimating
title: "_Mike Holt's Illustrated Guide to Electrical Estimating_"
tags:
  - status/complete
  - topic/construction/electrical
  - topic/estimating
  - type/media-commentary
---
# _Mike Holt's Illustrated Guide to Electrical Estimating_

Commentary on [[holt_2023_estimating]].

## Goodreads Review

_Mike Holt's Illustrated Guide to Electrical Estimating_,
like all of Holt's printed content I'm familiar with,
is a masterclass in construction education presentation
featuring attractive design, and plenty of detailed illustrations.
The bones of a great estimating textbook are present,
it has a compelling topic organization and progression,
however the content does not deliver on the promise.

The text treats [[construction-estimating]] like a strict procedure:
(1) get the documents
(2) do the takeoff
(3) do the closeout
(4) send the bid;
**if** there's ambiguity in the documents,
**then** send an RFI.

The reality of the industry is far messier than Holt would have you believe.

What do you do when RFI's go unanswered?
Drop the job?

In fact, the text suggests that _all_ assumptions ==are bad==.

I was compelled by my employer to purchase this book
along with several others of Holt's
as part of my apprenticeship curriculum.
I can't shake the feeling that this entry
was intended to pad out the course to four years.

## Goodreads Review Scratch

Holt's tone is undeservedly authoritative and principled.

It refuses to acknowledge the questions of complexity
that the content itself begs.
"Never make assumptions"

Many topics are grossly oversimplified,
or omitted entirely (subcontractor RFQ process)

This book is far too large in scope to lack the detail it does.
If it was only supposed to be a primer that would be expected,
but 

It feels designed for those unlikely to need or understand its topics,
except it is far too long for a layman's introduction.

If there will ever be a book to be what this one could not,
I don't think Holt would be the one to write it.
The group's content is very "teach to the book"
which is exactly what you want for contractor exams,
but not practical for estimating methodology.

> [!quote] [[holt_2023_estimating#7.2 Advantages and Disadvantages of Unit Pricing]]
> #### Disadvantages
> 
> Unit pricing is not suitable for jobs
> where outlets are not located at standard intervals.
> For example, if you have 200 identical fluorescent luminaries to install
> in a building where the ceiling heights vary from 8 ft to 15 ft in different areas,
> unit prices will need to be adjusted to an average luminaire height,
> or different unit prices will need to be applied for the different ceiling heights.

This is not a disadvantage
it's just how you use the method.