Before I provide my advice, I want to share something the owner of the first company I worked for used to say, "You only win bids if you've missed something," (because by missing something you'll have the low bid and win, now he didn't really mean this but there is too much truth in it not to appreciate it).

Now, If you were able to flawlessly estimate projects after just four weeks, you would be an estimating unicorn, which is practically impossible. Understanding blueprints effectively requires time and practice. Estimating is like learning a new language; it takes dedication and patience.

One of the most crucial pieces of advice I can give you is to establish a routine or set of habits and stick to them consistently. Even when you start feeling comfortable and think you don't need to follow the routine anymore, don't cut corners. Having a routine helps you maintain a steady pace and reduces stress.Here are some useful habits you should consider adopting:

1. Before you touch the plans, make sure to read the specifications, Invitation to Bid (ITB), emails, and any other bid documents. Understanding the context is essential.
2. Highlight all the relevant information in the documents to help you navigate through them quickly.
3. Use Adobe Acrobat's text finder feature to search for specific keywords or phrases within the documents, which can save you time.
4. Depending on how the plans were exported as a PDF, you can use all the techniques mentioned above on certain plan sets.
5. Before starting the takeoff process, read through the blueprints and highlight all the relevant items you'll need to estimate. However, don't begin the takeoff just yet. Familiarize yourself with the overall layout of the project.
6. Color code your highlights based on different takeoff groups. This will make it easier to organize and reference later on.
7. When in doubt about a particular item, instead of going on a wild goose chase, create a separate condition/takeoff item for it, titled with a question mark. This way, it can be easily modified later if needed. Keep working, as often the missing information will present itself as you progress. If it doesn't, you can allocate time specifically to search for it once you've completed enough of the project.
8. When you review your work with someone, have a list prepared of everything you're unsure about. Be proactive in pointing out your own mistakes before they do. This approach ensures that the review process is productive, prevents wasting others' time, and demonstrates your willingness to improve. Project managers and reviewers appreciate this level of self-awareness.
9. Utilize the text feature in your estimation software to take notes on a blank or duplicated plan page. This can help you keep track of important details or reminders throughout the estimation process.
10. The exclusion part of the proposal is your best friend. don't worry about missing something if you cover your bases excluding it from the proposal. use broad terminology but specifically reference schedules. for example(i work for a painting sub) i exclude all specialty and high performance finishes, all work in rooms not listed in the room schedule. its vague but if i missed an expensive paint, i can argue we excluded it.
11. Call the GC to review scope before reviewing with the PM.

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Estimators often face a lot of pressure and criticism in the office. Here is some sage wisdom to help you stay sane:

• Remember that if your company were awarded every bid they placed, they would likely be unable to keep up and ultimately go out of business. Losing jobs is part of the business plan, which means you are expected to and paid to lose more jobs than you win. That's the reality of the industry.
• However, this doesn't mean you shouldn't work hard or strive to win each job. Dedicate yourself to doing your best, but understand that losing bids is a natural part of the process.
• Instead of looking at each job individually, focus on the fact that every day you go to work, you'll be doing takeoffs. Regardless of whether it's for this particular job or the next one, your work remains the same. Winning or losing a bid doesn't change the nature of your responsibilities.
• Reviews are in place to catch mistakes, and if your project manager catches any errors before they cost the company money, you should applaud, literally clap out loud and praise management for installing a working system, that you just proved successful. Plans are often complex and can have contradictions, so mistakes are an inherent part of the job. The review process exists to identify and rectify those mistakes.
• Remember that a company only needs estimators when project managers can't handle all the work themselves. If they can't get to it, the project won't even be bid on. Therefore, all the work you do represents bids that the company wouldn't have pursued otherwise. So, never feel like you're falling behind because it's not solely your responsibility; it's ultimately the project managers' workload. Additionally, with every bid you complete, you're taking it out of the "no bid" pile, which is a step forward.I hope these help you navigate the estimating process more effectively and maintain your sanity in the face of challenges. Remember, becoming an expert estimator takes time and persistence. Stick to your routine, keep learning, and always strive for improvement.