Looking For Software

knuckleup

Is anyone familiar with an estimator software call Golden Seal, developed by Turtle Creek Software. It one that I saw in a review and was said to be the best amongst it comparisons. Is there anyone who's had experience with and can give me some direction.

knuckleup

Is anyone familiar with an estimator software call Golden Seal, developed by Turtle Creek Software. It's one that I saw in a review and was said to be the best amongst it's comparisons. Is there anyone who's had experience with it and can give me some direction.

rbsremodeling

I looked at a few years ago. Spoke with a few guys that used it and they liked it alot. They say setup was time consuming but once up and running they really like it. I downloaded the demo and it seemed kinda hokey to me not really professional looking so I left it alone. But it gets good reviews by users.

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Aladdin Builders

I agree...kinda cheap lookin....but one cant go on looks alone!
I want the whole package, graphics and performance...(hard to come by)

All I do is surf the web for contractors software...I think I'm an addict!!

I now have purchased:
Clear Estimates in 2006
Quick Books Pro Contractor in 2006
Bid Builder in 2006
Solid Builder in 2007
SmartContractor in 2007
National Cost Estimator in 2007
RS Means For 2008
Home Designer pro in 2007
PEM AIA in 2007
Planswift in 2006 or 2007

I really think I have software issues.

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Aladdin Builders
South Florida
www.AladdinBuilders.com
www.surfacesbyAladdin.com

Cole

Can you rank them from 1-10?

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Tulsa's Leader in Outdoor Living Construction | Facebook | Tulsa Pergola Builder | Tulsa Outdoor Kitchens

knuckleup

RB thanks. Aladdin it would be great to read your ranking. What do you say.

Aladdin Builders

Cole, they all perform different functions.

Examples:

Planswift performs takeoffs on screen with no real estimating modules or contract writing.

Home Designer is a 3 D design software that requires alot of time to understand the entire program.

Clear Estimates is a good program but lacks reports such as RFI, Quote requests, Vendor quote Requests etc...

Bid Builder is a excel based estimaror that is quite simple to use and has alot of capabilities...if you like excel!

Solid Builder....you will need a Masters degree to operate this one.

SmartContractor is great but lacks a importable data base or any data base.

P.E.M. is great for AIA commercial job documenting

So as you can see they are all good programs but we need 1 that does it all, for a good price!!


#3-Clear Estimates in 2006
#5-Quick Books Pro Contractor in 2006
#4-Bid Builder in 2006
#9-Solid Builder in 2007
#1-SmartContractor in 2007
#6-National Cost Estimator in 2007
#7-RS Means For 2008
#10-Home Designer pro in 2007
#8-PEM AIA in 2007
#2-Planswift in 2006 or 2007

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Aladdin Builders
South Florida
www.AladdinBuilders.com
www.surfacesbyAladdin.com

Buildology

Hi Aladdinbuilders

It looks like your software specialty is in estimating. I have studied a great deal of job cost accounting software. Have you looked at the estimating feature with Simple Solution @ Contractor Software Group? In think the accounting side is good. Let me know what you think if you have time.

rbsremodeling

Adding to aladdin's list

Hometech : good for new contractors without any historical data to use if you can sell at hometech's cost and system you are halfway there

Improvebuild: good integrated system for estimating,PM, contracts, really good for 2 person or more office setup can run on a network. uses hometech's database or you can add your own

Turtle creek: good software, takes some setup. but gets really good reviews

Bid4Build: good system for any contractor has data bases and lots of feature

Smartcontractor: good system lacks data base but has features well ahead of many other software thinking of using it in 08

My online tool box: New program but has alot of promise monitor this in 2008

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silvertree

To add to the list- UDA Estimating- it's excel based and I was helping a friend with an estimate today and that's what he uses. Simple and it seems intuitive.
I'm watching My Online Toolbox also.

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Vote for Pedro
Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
203K Loan Consultant Minnesota

rbsremodeling

I forgot uda
Uda good contract software and pM has started to add national estimating software. Good for custom builders I think it lacks for remodelers. But good overal package

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silvertree

Your point has merit about UDA, but here's what I think about all these software products. My friend went from Hometech to UDA because for him it was easier, or better in some way. He was a home builder 20 years ago, now he is a remodeler.My point... most of these programs work for some people and they are all more professional than a handwritten contract, which I still use if it's a one call close. On top of that I have a wireless printer that along with my laptop can do anything I need at the customers home.
So my setup is... Laptop with 2020 kitchen design and "Punch" home design for a bunch of 2D and 3D drawings if I need. Plus Clear Estimates and Hometech Online Estimator. Plus wireless printer. If you had asked me 15 years ago if I would do this I would have said no way! Welcome to the world of the modern contractor.

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Vote for Pedro
Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
203K Loan Consultant Minnesota

rbsremodeling

There is a company here that sends out estimators and they have a one page estimate/proposal form that they use to estimate on the spot. I don't care what the ho's job is. They use a sqft price system and give a price on the spot.

Ex Kitchen remodel
appliances ss
hardwood floors
granite top
recessed lighting
Estimate 60-80K

They put it in a nice folder with a c/d of jobs photos and some company info. They have been in business for a long time so their reputation is decent.

Estimating on the spot, they do this for any size jobs I have personally seen them leave estimates for customers using the one page form for up to 500K

They are very successful and they make lots of money.

If you sign on the line with them, they have a designer, showroom, software and staff that will show you get for the 60-80k

This works for them, I use to be floored when I went in behind them, and would see their estimates left like that and mind you they were usually 40-50% higher than my estimate.

I figure they take the highest sqft number for what ever project scope. Give them to the salesmen show then how to calculate the sqft give them 40 estimates a and hope they close 2-3.


how about that for an estimating system

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silvertree

Thanks RBS. I am totally jealous. One page. Well screw that, I am going to the printers right after my morning coffee and have them print my new estimate forms. they will be on the other side of my business card. Let anyone try and beat that!

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Vote for Pedro
Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
203K Loan Consultant Minnesota

rbsremodeling

this company is also the largest remodeler in america. Seeing the gross numbers I would not be surprise if they weren't the largest in the world.

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silvertree

Then that would be US Remodelers. The Home Depot partner. Right now I believe they are the largest.

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Vote for Pedro
Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
203K Loan Consultant Minnesota

Brickman311

Has anyone used this program Masterbuilder from Sage? It looks like it has alot of options and can be intergrated with timberline accounting software.

rbsremodeling

Demo'ed Master builder once you needed a college degree for it. Very combersome. Don't know if it has improved since then for a small guy under 1mil a year useless in my opinion

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Stone Mountain

Since you guys are all into estimating software, I have 2 questions:

1] anyone have a good suggestion for deck estimating software?

2] Does anyone use of know of a good scheduling program? In the height of the season we run as many as 14 crews and it can get really cumbersome?

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www.fenceanddeck.ca

Sarah9910

MasterBuilder is what Timberline is, they wouldn't work together, one would replace the other. They do the sames things. Accounting including job costing, Estimating or importing estimates from another estimating software, equipment management (your own equipment), Service management aka work orders and managing of customers equipment, document control (rfi, transmittals, submittals, daily field reports, etc) and scheduling, not sure if timberline's scheduling is part of the accounting package or is sure-trak and a separate program, but it should appear seamless to the end user.

If you are a small contractor, either one is probably more than you need unless you are a techie geek and just want it.

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Sarah Keiser, Business Consultant for Contractors
Success In-Formation LLC
Leading the Way in Software Education
www.successif.biz