Welcoming Resty Musisi – Estimator
The latest addition to our team of Construction Pioneers is Resty Musisi, who joins us as an Estimator. As is tradition we sat down with Resty for a quick Q & A…
Hi Resty and welcome. In your capacity as an estimator, a key part of your role is understanding what the client wants. What are you key tips for ensuring their satisfaction?
Satisfaction and understanding of ones needs go hand in hand. Therefore, in order to satisfy my client’s needs, it’s important to;
- Engage with the client as early as possible to understand their scope.
- Keep communication channels open throughout the required process.
- Ask questions about areas which are not clear.
- Deliver the clients’ requirements within the required deadline.
You need to have great people skills in your role, as you are interacting with many sub-contractors on a daily basis. How do you manage the relationships with sub-contractors while ensuring they deliver prices and specifications to often very tight deadlines?
I have to ensure that I send my sub-contractors good quality information i.e the specifications and Bill of Quantities, Drawings, Schedules. Doing this means that I get the right information back from them and in the required format. I ensure that I effectively communicate to sub-contractors before and after sending them enquiries to ensure that they are pricing the project. And then I liaise with the operations team to consider the subcontractors who regularly price at tender stage for any live work. If Subcontractors know that there’s a chance of giving them work, they will also price at tender stage.
If you could give 3 tips to someone thinking of becoming an estimator, based on your experience what would these be?
I think my top tips would be:
- Have the ability to work under pressure.
- Be a team player because you can never be confident that you know everything, you will always need a good working team to pull off quality bids.
- Every project is different but the concepts are similar so take every tender as it comes and understand it before embarking on costing it.
- Be passionate about what you do. Doing a job I like makes all the negatives disappear from my mind.
Thanks, we got 4 tips for the price of three there! Identifying risk plays a huge part in successfully and accurately estimating a project – thinking more broadly what do you think are the biggest risks for a construction company operating in the current climate?
I would say inflation, recognising changing technology and ensuring early adoption where advantageous and resourcing of workforces with the right skills.
More and more women are getting into construction roles, which is great. What would you say to encourage more women to take up careers in the industry?
I would tell other women not to look at this sector as a ‘men’s world’, a cliché which is normally associated with this industry. Presumptions are often made about the challenges women working in the construction industry face and although these are genuine concerns that many women working in construction have, the reality is more complex issue to explain. Therefore, if you see a position you believe you are good at in this industry, apply for it and don’t be put off.
Your job involves working with numbers, lots of numbers. What’s your favourite/lucky number and why?
26 is my favourite number. My birthday is 26 and I used to live in house number 26 plus my first date was on 26… if anyone can top that… hahaha!
If you had to estimate England’s chances at this summers World Cup what would they be?
I am not a gambler but I count on them being knocked out in round 3
Since joining Charles Edward what have you been most impressed by? (you can’t say Colin’s jokes…)
The good working relationship amongst colleagues. It feels like a family and everyone gets on well.
Thanks Resty, we wish you all the best in your new role and sincerely hope that England prove you wrong in the summer!
