What Program Are You Using For Estimates / Bids?

Floor-Tek

Im just curious as to what software most of you are using to do estimates and bid contracts?

thanks.

georgia dawg

I use the estimating CD available from Kristoferson's (sic) book "Estimating with Excel" available at builderbooks.com. The book costs about $35. The program is an Excel spreadsheet lite version of his high end Estimator Pro software, which I think retails for about $600-700. The lite version does all I need, and you can't beat the price. Plus, you get some good tips on modifying it and using Excel in your estimating. It does require Excel to be installed on your system. The spreadsheet in Works won't cut it. If you have a school kid in your house, you can get Office 2003 Student and Teacher Edition, which contains Excel, cheaper than if you bought Excel by itself. This is coming from a builder who does less than 10 houses a year, so your requirements may be different.

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"How much per sq.ft? Well.. gimme $1K and I can build a shed. Gimme $1M and I can build the same size shed with gold plating and encrusted diamonds."

Floorwizard

Cdms

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"in 20 years you will regret more what you did not do than what you did"

Redman

I use UDA estimating software it, estimating,contracts,etc. Its worth looking into, I got it because I had a estimate for a 300k job and knew I needed somthing more than a notepad. It has worked awsome and the customer has even made coments on how good all our documentation has looked. It has everthing needed for a construction company. I can't think how much time and work it has saved.

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One day at a Time.

MattCoops

we use the brain software
it's in all of us, just some neglect to utilize it
no fancy gimics needed except some proposal copies, pen/pencil, graph paper, rule, tape measure, and a calculator

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Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

MrFloors

We use Quickbooks Contractor. Very into entering data once. The modules interface nicely with the estimating system so we can instantly track expenditures against plan against estimates and have the same system handle our accounting as well. We have five active users on the system all day, and it works like a jewel.