Estimating Programs...... - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

CF Construction · 11-24-2008, 01:24 PM

.....what programs out there do you guys recommend getting for estimating purposes? We don't want to "outsource" our job and hire an estimator to do our estimates for large projects. Therefore, I'm trying to find an alternate that'll benefit the GC I work for and myself. This way we can have a one time fee that'll ultimately prove to be very cost efficient.

So which estimating software(s) do you guys recommend? If you have a link, please provide that as well.

Thanks in advance.

Max Nomad · 11-24-2008, 01:40 PM

I've briefly checked out Estimate Master (http://www.cooncreeksoftware.com/em.htm , latest version retails for about $300 including shipping). The good thing about it is that it seems to be well supported. The downside is that it seems best suited for commercial spaces but for residential it's a bit overkill unless it's a serious renovation project.

There's also an annual publication called the "[year] National Repair & Remodeling Estimator" and it comes with some basic estimator software that also pulls numbers from the data in the book. Like the Estimate Master, it seems better suited for commercial estimates and overkill for residential.

In both cases, the reason the software seems like overkill for most residential contracting (short of building an entire house or an addition to the house) is that there doesn't seem to be a need to break down all the takeoffs into their respective divisions.

Check out this link to find other packages and resources out there:

http://www.aspenational.org/ESTMATINGSOFTWARE.htm

CF Construction · 11-24-2008, 01:53 PM

Thanks!

We do many residential remodelings, including additions. We actually just got the thumbs up to build a new house out in Miami Beach! We also do many commercial remodeling, especially medical office remodelings.

I think the things you've mentioned would perfectly suit us and our needs. As I mentioned, we just don't want to "outsource" our ability to place bids on big prjects (i.e. construction of a new house). At times we need to have our bids (including that of subs) in a very restricted amount of time in which at times it's little time for the subs to provide an adequate and thorough estimate/bid. We want to be able to have something available that'll help us fill those gaps in the meantime.

rbsremodeling · 11-24-2008, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CF Construction

Thanks!

We do many residential remodelings, including additions. We actually just got the thumbs up to build a new house out in Miami Beach! We also do many commercial remodeling, especially medical office remodelings.

I think the things you've mentioned would perfectly suit us and our needs. As I mentioned, we just don't want to "outsource" our ability to place bids on big prjects (i.e. construction of a new house). At times we need to have our bids (including that of subs) in a very restricted amount of time in which at times it's little time for the subs to provide an adequate and thorough estimate/bid. We want to be able to have something available that'll help us fill those gaps in the meantime.

Take a look at

UDA Construction suite
Bid4build,
Smart contractor
Computool

silvertree · 11-24-2008, 04:22 PM

I have used
Clear Estimates
Hometech
And others, they all work.
Now I do Excel and punch in my numbers.
$130,000 residential remodel estimate, I print out 9 to 12 pages, plus a selections page.
As far as getting the subs on board, hasn't happened yet.

True North · 11-24-2008, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silvertree

...Now I do Excel and punch in my numbers...

Interesting.

I keep coming back to good old Excel myself. It's flexibility is hard to beat.

Do you have any specific templates you use or?

silvertree · 11-24-2008, 06:50 PM

No specific templates. If my kitchen biz takes off that would be a good thing to have. As far as Excel goes, your not going through a bunch of stuff your customer doesn't understand.
Example: Paint west wall of living room and install prefinished base trim.
Cover carpet with clean drop cloth.---------------$362.50
Nothing but the work and the price, as opposed to---------

Item 243.04 Painting, wall up to 8' - 112SF @ $1.12 SF-------------$144.00
Item 435.88 Moldings-12LF X 3.5" Maple base ect,ect
To each their own.

rbsremodeling · 11-24-2008, 07:06 PM

Here is the the biggest benefit for most software. Easy of use, and quick turn around on estimating, But that can be dangerous if you don't know your numbers

I have templates built for most common jobs. So I can do most estimates in an hour or two and have a contract done in another hour after that.

Most of us hate to do estimates but it is what gets us the work we need.

So a good software program makes it more bearable if the numbers are adjustable to meet your costs and markups

Templates are a must to me, I have 6 kitchens, 8 baths, 2 basement, and 5 whole house remodel templates. Add to that decks, fencing and typical repairs.

silvertree · 11-24-2008, 08:11 PM

So Rory, are you saying you made templates for Excel? I think that makes a lot of sense.
Or are you saying you use another programs templates?
Whatever, I believe the customer is more impressed with Excel and a work scope than with "Hometech" or the others.
Agree or disagree?

rbsremodeling · 11-24-2008, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silvertree

So Rory, are you saying you made templates for Excel? I think that makes a lot of sense.
Or are you saying you use another programs templates?
Whatever, I believe the customer is more impressed with Excel and a work scope than with "Hometech" or the others.
Agree or disagree?

Sorry I did not make it clear Paul I settled on and using Computool and I have templates in the program for the areas I mentioned. And my scope of work is written by me and inserted in the program. Some are hometech revised by me and some are my own. I am working on it and hope to have it all done over the winter.

silvertree · 11-24-2008, 08:56 PM

OK, got it.
We both seem to write a scope that is supported by a program.

On another note: The CT poll today asked, "What would you like to see as a feature in CT".
I said: "A group of members working like in a roundtable to move an idea forward".
Example, estimating. Pick a couple of workable processes and move them forward. You use computool and some Hometech and it sounds like Word or Excel. Maybe your onto something.
I have used simple program for just doing cabinet changeouts. I don't have it anymore, but it was easy and accurate.
Think about the roundtable thing.
I went at looked at Computool, I remember it from a few moths ago. Looks very good.
I am looking to do less work, more specialized and hopefully with a higher margin. Simple is best for me.

woodmagman · 11-24-2008, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbsremodeling

Here is the the biggest benefit for most software. Easy of use, and quick turn around on estimating, But that can be dangerous if you don't know your numbers

I have templates built for most common jobs. So I can do most estimates in an hour or two and have a contract done in another hour after that.

Most of us hate to do estimates but it is what gets us the work we need.

So a good software program makes it more bearable if the numbers are adjustable to meet your costs and markups

Templates are a must to me, I have 6 kitchens, 8 baths, 2 basement, and 5 whole house remodel templates. Add to that decks, fencing and typical repairs.

Are these in excel? If they are I am with silver tree on the round table idea....as I have several that I am not willing to part with, but would defiantly collaborate with limited contractors, including cabinet cutting programs. I have some older versions that went from concept to what I am using now but would like to take them back to concept and see what other direction they can go.

rbsremodeling · 11-24-2008, 10:03 PM

No they are in my software program

woodmagman · 11-24-2008, 10:13 PM

I hear ya....

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbsremodeling

No they are in my software program

silvertree · 11-24-2008, 10:23 PM

Before you think I'm out to steal your software, I wouldn't.
You guys are going forward with the estimating programs and I am going backwards. I have 4 programs the newest being Clear Estimates. I really think I'm done with this for now. The customers don't care, I make them read every page, most do but they aren't impressed, or maybe its me but they are hiring me at that point

Next year I am hoping to run a less complicated more fun business. I will be seeing how Rory is doing with Computool; sh*t, you don't even have to ask, the guy, he writes 30 posts a day.

rbsremodeling · 11-24-2008, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodmagman

I hear ya....

Didn't mean it like that. The templates are in My estimating software program and not an excel template

But Paul and Wood you can upload any excel spreadsheet into Computool and use it as you cost,estimating and spec sheet database.

The numbers and specs can be changed at any time as well.

I deliver estiimate, contract and draw schedule almost to everyone I give an estimate too.

woodmagman · 11-24-2008, 10:43 PM

I am using projects, excel and word. With templates for all do not tell anyone but a house can be bid in about 20 minutes providing the specifications are set in stone at the get go...boy do I miss my Tandy 1000

rbsremodeling · 11-24-2008, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodmagman

I am using projects, excel and word. With templates for all do not tell anyone but a house can be bid in about 20 minutes providing the specifications are set in stone at the get go...boy do I miss my Tandy 1000

Thats the problem I dont want to have anymore.

The software does leads, marketing, estimating, contracts, service calls, scheduling, warranty, you name it.

I gave up and just want to run one program for every thing

silvertree · 11-24-2008, 10:47 PM

I know you'll keep us informed on how this is working for you. Never know, I may decide to do the software boogie again.
I'm not knocking what your doing, it sounds smart. When I say I am going backwards, I mean I am going back to the more easily understood and basic ways of doing business. This weekend I spent 2 hours on Saturday and Sunday greeting housewives and 2 very uncomfortable husbands in the back of my truck. Face to face and how do ya do. I don't know where this will end up, but I am hoping the baby boomers will accept a more casual way of doing business. Marketing, sales and CMS. Man, when I dropped out of school I thought this was going to be easy. I'm not as smart as I thought I was back then.

True North · 11-25-2008, 10:45 AM

I'm interested in how you guys set up your templates.

Do you have a place for line items and just fill in your best guess for price, or do you draw from a database of sorts, even if it's a notepad? Perhaps you just know your prices well enough so that is not a problem. I'm working on that!

I approach estimating in a systems type way: While I would never price say, a deck, out by the square foot, I [i]would[i] price the decking that way. Railings would be by the linear foot, joists by the piece, and so on.

In the software I use (Goldenseal), I have all of these assemblies built up and templates made so estimating is very fast. A fairly complex finished basement can be done in around 15 minutes. Of course, if I run into anything new that isn't in my assembly database, it take considerably longer.

The thing with Goldenseal is that it ships with all of these cost items, but they aren't worth a whole lot because they're based on the software developer's production rates. While accurate for his crew, they aren't for me. I ended up deleting everything and starting over with my own database. It took probably 60 hours of work, and I'm still not done!