Estimating Software

[wyliesdiesels]

Im on the hunt for an estimating and quoting software program. Curious what others are using.

Ive been doing the excel spreadsheet thing for a long time but i would like to upgrade to a database style program so I can input materials into it and have them populate on a quote.

Have used quickbooks on a friends system and liked it but would like to know what else is out there.

Thx

 

[R.Anderson]

Bump,

We use Excel spreadsheets as well. We have different templates setup for certain jobs, HVAC, service change, solar PV, boilers, Lighting, etc.

Would have to be a darn good program to give up excel. What would be nice is some how tie it to supply houses for real time parts cost.

 

[James-W]

I have heard of something called "Quilder" but I have no idea how it works or if it is any good or not. One of the guys I golfed against a couple months ago was talking about it with another guy and I happened to overhear part of their conversation. I am not sure it is the kind of software that you want, but from the bits and pieces I overheard it is for doing estimates so maybe it would work for you.

 

[Catadj78]

I use Xactimate for my estimates .. it may work for you but it's a lil expensive

 

[Wirepuller]

Conest I've used for a while but it's pretty spendy. I usually just go the old school route with takeoffs by hand and excel to build the bid


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[-Brent-]

Have you looked at any of the apps available? Joist and Quilder come to mind, first, but I am sure there are others out there, too.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Thx everyone. I will check into all your suggestions.

Just spent several hours doing quotes with spreadsheets...it gets old after awhile. Would like a more automated process.

 

[Msliechty]

on screen takeoff user here.

ML

 

[bczygan]

Thx everyone. I will check into all your suggestions.

Just spent several hours doing quotes with spreadsheets...it gets old after awhile. Would like a more automated process.

As an estimator, nothing beats a good spreadsheet template. But that is just a beginning point. And software is the same.

One place I worked, third largest apartment builder in the country, used paper and pencil.

The important thing is knowing what you are doing and a careful takeoff. And tying down prices and any other quotes or bids that are a part of yours.

To me, the defining of everything, down to the last detail, was as important as getting accurate quantities and prices.

You are building the project on paper and in your mind, so every step needs going through to get the best accuracy. After you have done it hundreds of times, there is a tendency to just ballpark from experience, or a desire to automate. This can save you rime, but will cost in accuracy because you will lose detail.

You have to decide if this is a worthwhile trade off.

Bill

 

[manwithtools]

Xactimate is the construction industry standard from what I'm told. That's what the insurance companies use to pay their claims from, so it must be fairly accurate.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I use Xactimate for my estimates .. it may work for you but it's a lil expensive

Looks like that program is geared towards auto insurance companies. What line of work do u do?

 

[MMichael]

As an estimator, nothing beats a good spreadsheet template. But that is just a beginning point. And software is the same.

One place I worked, third largest apartment builder in the country, used paper and pencil.

The important thing is knowing what you are doing and a careful takeoff. And tying down prices and any other quotes or bids that are a part of yours.

To me, the defining of everything, down to the last detail, was as important as getting accurate quantities and prices.

You are building the project on paper and in your mind, so every step needs going through to get the best accuracy. After you have done it hundreds of times, there is a tendency to just ballpark from experience, or a desire to automate. This can save you rime, but will cost in accuracy because you will lose detail.

You have to decide if this is a worthwhile trade off.

Bill

Agree with Bill. I am an estimator too and have to say, that when you don´t know what you are doing, no software or app will help you. On the other hand, software can help you learn new things, help you to better yourself. Excel can´t help you in that way. Here is an article about pros and cons of excel and proffesional software. Think it sums it up perfectly: https://www.esticom.com/use-excel-professional-estimating-software/

 

[manwithtools]

Looks like that program is geared towards auto insurance companies. What line of work do u do?

Xactimate is a estimating software used by insurance companies for loss claims. They have versions for auto, home and business and many other products. Some contractors who do insurance work use this package because it's the same the adjuster will use.

 

[-Brent-]

I like the idea of software that's already created because I'm not an Excel pro. However, if you have someone that's skilled with Excel, getting some help creating a template could hold you over for a while, if not simplify what you're doing to a more tolerable level.

 

[WhiffySpark]

What are you estimating!

 

[manwithtools]

Based on the theme of wyliesdiesels many posts on this site, I'd venture to say electrical contracting of some sort.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Based on the theme of wyliesdiesels many posts on this site, I'd venture to say electrical contracting of some sort.

Some Electrical and a whole lotta low voltage jobs.

Theres a huge demand where im at for low voltage and computer network services as theres a handful of companies that do the work but many are hacks so I do a lot of clean up work.

The local IBEW union doesnt think theres that much of a demand for low voltage work out here so they dont even have a division for it.

On the other hand theres tons of electrical contractors.....

 

[Catadj78]

Looks like that program is geared towards auto insurance companies. What line of work do u do?

Insurance adjuster...I handle homeowner claims. The auto side uses a different program ..been busy lately

 

[mnoeltne]

You might want to find a local Excel guru who can refine your spreadsheets and create some macros to automate some of the processes. If you have been using Excel for a long time, this will reduce the learning cycle.

 

[WhiffySpark]

I use QuickBooks and jobber for landscaping. Jobber may work for you

 

[LeeG]

Try McCormick Systems estimating software. They've been in the electrical estimating software business for over 30 years.

www.mccormicksys.com

Disclosure: I am somewhat biased as I am one of the programmers that develop the software for them, but we do have a lot of happy customers.

 

[Irongrave]

I have a very good spread sheet system in google docs that I use for my estimates and adjust them as cost go up or down as a cabinet maker. We also use a product called Co-Construct that is a Quickbooks linked system for building houses but its an all in one tool that can send out P.O.s and auto reference off emailed invoices.

 

[phred]

Looks like that program is geared towards auto insurance companies. What line of work do u do?

I'm a professional estimator for over 30 years. I have worked on projects all over the world ranging from houses to complete international airports. I've used products from mc2, success estimator, rs means, and others. I personally built the data base that xatimate is built on and did all the beta testing. It's designed to get you close for insurance purposes. I've never seen any software that can beat a person. Software is only as good as the info that is entered. The new thing on the market is 5D estimating using bim models to extract quantities. Again only as good as the info entered. I can do a 200000 sf building from foundation to roof by hand in about 40 hours with pencil, scale and calculator and usually be within 2% of the winning bid. I'm not big on software. A spreadsheet and experience beats a machine any time


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[MMichael]

Agree with phred: "Software is only as good as the info that is entered." But the same can be said about the calculator and the spreadsheet you use. These are only tools. Used excel for a very long time, now I am using software and wouldn´t go back. The work is done much faster but it is still me who has to make the decisions in the estimate, not the software. Here is an article about the benefits of using excel vs. software...think it sums it up nicely: https://www.esticom.com/use-excel-professional-estimating-software/