Looking To Buy Estimating Software

gcoast805

I have been looking to purchase some software for estimating and take offs ive looked at maxwell, sage, and pro est I would really apprecciate it someone gave me there feedback
thank you

rbsremodeling

We need more information so that we can stir you in the wrong direction

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SLSTech

No intro, No location, doesn't know how to search or he might have seen this...
http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/pr...success-27899/

Search is your friend - questions like this tend to lead said individual... well you will have to search out that answer to, or just follow along for the ride

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Alabama Full Service Remodeling, Renovation, and Preservation by SLS Construction
Certified Energy Efficiency Audits, Ratings, Modeling, Verifications, & Consulting
Residential, Commercial, & Industrial Infrared Thermography Scans

Aggie67

I'm not a nit-picker, but man, as a licensed engineer it irks me when people say they offer engineering, and they can't even spell the word. Please modify the "trade" entry in your personal profile.

But now that the horse is out of the barn, I must pry. Every state in the union forbids people from advertising themselves as engineers unless there's a licensed engineer owning part of the firm. And you need a Certificate of Authorization from the state, along with your license. What state do you hail from?

gcoast805

sorry it bothers you but my wife wrote down this message. any how i am a licensed engineering contractor in California

Phillip Arnt

Some free advise to shop with.
1: Call the support number of the Estimating application your curious about, see how you are treated, be creative when you call...This is how you will be treated if you can't pay your support contract.

2: Ask the sales people for client references-actually call the references.

3: Write down a list of Estimating tasks you would like to accomplish with an automated estimating application.

4: Forget about integrations to accounting or Project management apps, focus on actual estimating tools.

5: Ask for a list of third party cost database provider products that interface with the Estimating app. Design Build Engineering companies generally prefer MEANS, if yes, have the salesman walk you step by step through interfacing with MEANS or whatever other option they solicit.

6: Ask the salesman what the penalty is for canceling the support contract, ask for it in writing. Ask the salesman what hardware warranties if any are provided with the purchase. Is there a guaranteed support call back duration. IE: 1 hour, 3 hours, 3 weeks, 3 months. In writing!

7: Our upgrades free when on service contract? Get his answer in writing.

8: Does the product have custom reporting capabilities, what are the costs for custom report writing?

9: Is license security- dongle driven "hardware device" or Software key driven. What is the policy for a user license? How much do extra user licenses cost? "Hardware dongles can be moved around where software license(s) are single use"

10: How many service releases or upgrades on average does the company release per year? How many total releases in the last 5 years? "This will tell me how often bugs are being addressed"

11: What is the company policy on asking training focused questions to the support staff, will your calls be refused after too many questions. Ask for it in writing!

12: Who on the staff of the software company has real world estimating experience? If yes, ask for contact info, call and ask questions of this person, see if your being fed a line, Does the support and training staff have actual Estimating field experience? IE: If you call in regards to machine control has anyone on the staff ever actually used machine control in the field?!

These are a few of the questions or vetting principles I start with when shopping for tools, maybe they will be of use or maybe not.

I have many more questions but lack time to write a research article this afternoon. I have a small request though, if for any reason you ask or use any of these questions email me back with a summary of the salesman's answers and the questions used. I would appreciate it!

Thanks, good luck!

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Phillip Arnt
+++phil@maningtongroup.com+++
"Leave the plus off"

Aggie67

It got my hackles up. I took my medicine, and now I'm fine.

One thing I've learned is that a software package isn't a one-size-fits-all deal. I've tried a bunch (Means, ProEst Pipe, PHCC, Craftsman, Timberline, FastEst), they all have faults. I know a guy who bought the full Timberline suite, and he regrets it. He said it's devolved into a system of cheats to get everything to run right.