Looking at MasterBuilder vs Timberline - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

dadeservice · 08-26-2008, 12:52 PM

We are looking on input if worth purchasing Master Builder or Timberline
to combine our accounting/PO/Estimating and Quoting. Also looking for good intergration for Outlook/Office and mybe sharepoint.

Any input would be great..

Frank

frank.perryman@dadeservice.com

asnider · 08-26-2008, 01:17 PM

I would put my money on Timberline. They have the integration you need and they are the oldest kid on the block so you know they do it right. That said, you can't go wrong with either of the two packages you are comparing....they are both very solid.

Good luck and be ready to shovel out the dough!

Sarah9910 · 09-04-2008, 09:44 PM

Both are owned by Sage so your decision is probably features and price. If you want more features, you'll pay the price, Timberline being the more expensive. But I know from my experience, either one has more features than most contractors utilize. But then maybe you are one of the the 5% who really use all the features of their software. If your sales rep is honest, they won't oversell you. Since you are researching only one company, ask if you can start with the less expensive and move up if you need to without a penalty!

DesignBuild · 10-03-2008, 09:30 PM

After a long search (4 months) for new software for our real estate and GC business, I've finally settled on Master Builder. I looked at Computerease, Foundation, Accubuild, and Maxwell American Contractor. I finally settled on Master Builder because it seems to handle change orders, retention, estimating complex budgets with 100's of line items, and monthly bank draw style billing better than most. These were the shortcomings that Quickbooks Contractor really didn't handle that well, and I was tired of double entering into QB and Xcel. Its a big investment (spent about $8k for 3 seats including the basic and project management modules, plus another $6k for 40 hours of training, access to web based training, and 1 year worth of upgrades and support). One factor in the decision was that Master Builder seems like one of the more common of these programs, which hopefully means the support is good and that it will be around for a while. Our company develops and builds only a couple projects per year, mixed use residential 60-120 units, and about $15-20 mil per year. I'll update in a few months after we've had a chance to use it.

BuildingHomes · 10-03-2008, 10:32 PM

From an administrators point of view, Timberline Office is a POS to maintain. Extremely picky database engine, and very picky client software. Many a time I had to modify/delete registry entries just to get it to work.

If using it, give it it's own machine running 32-bit Windows Server. It does NOT work under 64-bit Windows, even though they don't tell you that.

And good luck backing up the database with your standard set of backup software.

Sarah9910 · 10-06-2008, 06:41 PM

I hope Pam Schultz is your consultant for your training, she is in your area and is EXCELLENT.

coastalcm · 10-20-2008, 12:02 PM

We moved from Quickbooks Contractor to Masterbuilder about two years ago. Although I am finally getting to the point that I can appreciate it's abilities, the process and learning curve were both long and expensive. We are a cost plus company -- which Masterbuilder does not do the best with is several areas, however since Sage purchased a year or so ago, I can see that they are trying to make some upgrades. There are some very simple areas that QB handles with ease, that for some reason MB just doesn't address. I did receive a call this week that MB will be implementing one of my (many) suggestions, regarding subcontracts.

asnider · 01-07-2009, 04:10 PM

DesignBuild, you've hurt my feelings. You could have at least considered EZJOB!

charliedog1 · 01-29-2009, 06:33 PM

Timberline is very expensive and cumbersome. Timberline seems make it very difficult to learn and modify without the expensive support they offer. I believe Quickbooks is much better, easier and eveb drops into Excel much better than Timberline.

asnider · 01-30-2009, 03:08 PM

I'm sorry but comparing Timberline to Quickbooks is like comparing Lebron James to Manu Ginobili. They are both professionals and they both help their team win, but if you make them play 1 on 1.....Quickbooks and Ginobili are going to walk away with their tail between their legs.

Lighting Retro · 03-25-2009, 01:04 PM

Basketball analogies FTW! So if you are just a bench player, and you need something to maintain your limited skill set, what software would I look to coach?

Anything under $500 that can do accounting, invoicing, estimating and CRM?

rbsremodeling · 03-25-2009, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lighting Retro

Basketball analogies FTW! So if you are just a bench player, and you need something to maintain your limited skill set, what software would I look to coach?

Anything under $500 that can do accounting, invoicing, estimating and CRM?

bid4build

http://www.bid4build.com/

UDA

http://www.uniteddesign.com/excel_spread.html

Build star (online software)

http://www.buildstar.com/

EES

http://www.electricalestimatingsoftware.com/

Send RBSremodeling 20 bucks for the review of each

Lighting Retro · 03-25-2009, 01:32 PM

Thanks. I will do some research on these, and then I may still take you up on your $20 offer. Sounds like you may have tried all of these? Any strong points you think it is good to know about them?

(seeking free advice....)

Lighting Retro · 03-25-2009, 01:56 PM

Actually, after looking at those options, I don't think any of them are what we are looking for. We run more of a service call type of business on the Communications side of the house. (Phone System Service, cabling, programming, etc) We have the bid programs together in Excel for those already, and can't see needing anything super fancy.

However, I would like to find something that can integrate CRM capability with accounting that would allow us to attach documents to accounts. I would like to have multiple computer simultaneous access, and ideally it would be designed for a service call company. We don't do new construction, and our lighting retrofitting is pretty specialized, so we have our own program for that as well.

Any suggestions for service call company software for CRM and accounting joined together? Thanks.

Sarah9910 · 03-29-2009, 07:51 PM

Software under $500. to do CRM, Accounting , Service Management? Hopefully I read that wrong. Hmmm....Would you wire my house for a few hundred bucks? Don't think so. Just remember, you get what you pay for.

Lighting Retro · 03-30-2009, 12:48 AM

If you never ask, you'll never know.

But yes, I suppose I did not expect much. But if you haven't been using anything but quickbooks, one can't possbily know all that's out there. Thanks for the feedback guys.

DesignBuild · 05-29-2009, 02:21 PM

We are a developer and GC, about $20 million per year (1 or two large projects at a time) and switched to Masterbuild about 8 months ago after a lot of research. Although we've survived the transition, I can't say I'm impressed. The program seems primitive on many fronts. It doesn't update reports after you enter new data (you have to back up and re-create the report), its subject to corrupt files, the information is not organized in a graphic or logical way, its ability to track other construction information such as punchlist or warranty items is extremently limited (for example you can't email anything out of the software to other people), and we've had trouble getting things like change orders to update subcontractor amounts correctly. Payroll is a hassle compared to QB. We've had to keep double books (a spreadsheet), as a backup just in case. We have had a couple of forms customized (an automatic lien waive form that calculates amount paid to date) which cost about $1500 and doesn't work consistently. We paid for 40 hours of consultant set-up and training and have found the trainer to be very good, but the software has shorcomings. Seems like there should be something better available...

Sarah9910 · 06-08-2009, 10:40 PM

Both Master Builder and American Contractor have service modules with dispatch boards that may work for you.

If ALL you do is service work, there are others out there JUST for service when no contract work is involved.

There is also a service program that works in conjunction with QuickBooks (third party software).

Chris Breezy · 06-12-2009, 09:01 AM

We're a fairly large carpentry company in the GTA and we love Jonas Software. We looked at Maxwell, Timberline, Masterbuilder etc. but Jonas ended up being the best choice because of the price and the ability to customize everything.