Construction Software

Posts Tagged ‘Estimating’

PlanSwift 9 is right around the corner and with it will come one of the great advances in Estimating and Takeoff Software.

Yes, this may sound like a big statement, a bunch of marketing hot air.
So how can I say this?

You see, we looked around and realized Apple’s iPhone has revolutionized the cell phone industry with its APPS. Plugins for PlanSwift will do the same thing for Construction Estimating and Takeoff Software.

Plugins work just like iPhone Apps they are little programs that allow you to expand the usefulness of PlanSwift. To fully customize your program to your needs. Without the need to create a program that does everything right out of the box and would cost way too much money forcing you to pay for tools you do not need.

However, With Plugins you can add to the already powerful PlanSwift, adding those specialty tasks, assemblies, tools, and integrations you find helpful. With just a few mouse clicks from inside the program, you can tailor PlanSwift 9 to YOU.

How do we get these Plugins?

Along with the development of PlanSwift 9 we have build a Developers Network of tools, tips and resources. Open to EVERYONE allowing you to build and sell plugins. Or you could have a plugin built for your needs then sell it to other contractors with the same problem.

Just like with Apple, we understand you know better than anyone does what you need and how to best solve the problem.

So we built the tools you will need and are giving them to you to build the Plugins.
Then we give you the tools to sell your plugins to other PlanSwift user to earn some extra money.

Never before has there been such a leap forward in thinking. Creating one of greatest advances in Construction estimating and takeoff software.

ATF Capital construction offers freelance estimating services.With 20 + years of experience we specialize in concrete ,masonry,flooring and all kinds of construction trades. Please visit our website www.estimatingconstruction.us For more information about our company, you can call us on 786-718-8988 / 305-325-4042 or email us at atfestimating@gmail.com

10 Interface with Microsoft Word have a report writer

The estimate you present to your customer is a reflection of your professionalism. Typically, it’s left behind for them to review and compare to other contractor’s estimates. If it’s chicken scratching on the back of an envelope or just some numbers printed out it’s not going to compare favorably with the estimates prepared by other contractors.

If the “finishing touches” on your estimate are done through Word, or a report writer, you can customize the estimate to make it look absolutely fabulous. You can add your contract terms, pictures (a picture is worth a thousand words) of what you’re going to do, before and after pictures of other jobs, etc. Your estimate will be on the top of the heap. You will get jobs where your bid is not the lowest because of the professional look of your estimate.

9. Synchronize your laptop and your desktop

Many contractors have a laptop computer they take out to the field and a desktop computer in the office that they use when they are in the office. Does this sound like the way you work? It’s important that you have an easy way to synchronize the information on your laptop with the information on your desktop. This means that you don’t lose any of your work on either computer.

Also, the system must allow you to use the program on your laptop as well as your desktop with one license so you don’t have to purchase two copies of the program. This saves you money and gives flexibility.

8. Produce a material list so you can get exact pricing from your suppliers

You will find that material lists are important because you can get exact pricing for the materials for your job. A detail list of the specific quantities of each material can be sent to your suppliers and they will respond with the prices you will have to pay for each of the materials.

This means that you can use those prices in your estimate so you will be right “on the money” for your material prices. This means that you won’t lose money because your material prices were out of date.

7. Allow notes in your estimate

Being able to add notes to your estimates is important for several reasons:

1. You can remind yourself why you estimated a line, or a section, a particular way so when you’re looking at the estimate a week or a month from now you’ll understand what you were thinking. I don’t know about you, but I will look at something I did a week ago and wonder what I was thinking when I did it.

2. You can describe what you are doing in specific areas of the job, like what material you’re going to use and why. This allows you to demonstrate to your customer that you understand what needs to be done and how you’re going to do it. You also have a written agreement on how specific items are going to be handled because it’s and integral part of the estimate.

Construction estimation software isn’t exactly what people think about first for when they need to estimate the projected cost of their to-be-built properties and projects; instead, many imagine spreadsheets, or packs of paper. However, building software is becoming increasingly popular due to the numerous advantages building software has: wide availability; reliability; cheap costs; and the simple fact that construction estimation software saves a lot of time.

Estimation software is easy to use and estimates the projected construction costs. That includes job costs and payment tracking; report generating; phase analysing; building schedule; inspection costs; equipment rentals; engineering costs; etc. In short, estimation software not only estimates the costs of the software, but also helps project managers by easing and fulfilling tasks that are usually left for accountants (who, by the way, cost money). Furthermore, some systems have a built-in order system that allows a few-click ordering of necessary materials.

The biggest advantage of construction estimating software, of course, is time saving. Everything that this software does can be done with a pencil and paper, or with spreadsheets. Oftentimes, however, there is a number of people working on the project, and programs with an online database become a huge time-saver as the project can be edited anywhere, anytime. Building software, as most mankind’s inventions, was invented to save time. And saving time means saving money; that’s why building software makes the construction more effective altogether.

Who needs this software? Estimation software is also called contraction cost software, because it estimates the contraction costs. Thus, not only architects or engineers need this software; contractors especially need it, as the efficiency of the project is hugely dependent on the costs. Most of these programs are actually targeted to contractors who, with the help of such software, can easily determine the projected costs and make quick cost-based adjustments, for example, wooden floors against laminate, etc.

Don’t forget, though; despite the fact that contraction cost software is generally easy to use and can prove to be an irreplaceable tool for estimation, remember to analyse the results critically and always have a back-up plan.

In the business of residential construction there is a serious problem with projects being underestimated, resulting in little to no profits for the building companies. It can seem as though no matter how meticulously they work on accurate data collection, money seems to go like water through their hands. In such a highly competitive price related industry, it’s vital for contractors to acquire expertise for creating accurate estimates. To be best understood, the process of producing a quote can be divided into two areas; typical residential costs and potential costs.

Firstly a contractor must calculate the costs for anything that comes under the heading of typical residential construction costs. The location and environmental costs are a large part of this, and contractors should always survey the residential block prior to

commencing. This will enable them to assess things like whether the land is wet or dry and any money that needs to be allocated for demolition and removal of debris.

A quotation for a residential building estimate should give accurate details about how much the construction will cost to build according to the plans supplied. This means data must be compiled to cover laying a foundation(concrete, footings, slabs, columns and associated machinery), heating or cooling systems for the home and framing and flooring(walls, roofs, floors & floor coverings, ceilings etc). The exteriors and interiors include any materials used to cover the inside and outside of the building such as bricks, paints and built in cupboards and cabinets. Windows are just as important when it comes to quoting accurately, and contractors can sometimes forget about the extra wood used for their installation along with other hardware.

Electricians and plumbers can be tricky when it comes to accurately forecasting the cost of their work. They are also working off estimations, so you need to have confidence in their ability to give accurate quotes include lighting fixtures and plumbing fixtures like toilets and showers. Appliances are presumed to be included in residential construction estimations, so quote for items like dishwashers and garbage disposals, and be willing to include any extra’s the customer requests.

The area of other costs can be devised after the contractor has investigated all the typical costing data. Other possible costs to be included in the residential construction estimate can include preparation of the site, permit applications, demolition/debris removal or landscaping. Any changes requested after the plans have begun to be executed can be added if they have been approved by the appropriate executives.

It is impossible to get an absolutely accurate figure for the exact price of building a residential home. Every contractor is more than aware of the possible variables that can interrupt the expected flow, and for this reason always include escalation, contingency reserve and market update allowance clauses in the quotations.

To enable residential construction estimates to be more accurate and less complicated, do the company and contractors a favor and buy some construction estimating software. Estimates will be immaculate, organized and scheduled in advance so plans go ahead without any problems, and they will look professional and impressive as well. Seriously save time and money and get in synch with the ebbs and flows of your business through live updated data for analysis on how projects are currently running and ways to improve for future ones.

Many people in the construction industry are just going high tech and they don’t know why they would choose to use estimating software.  There are so many great tools out there now that will allow you those in the construction industry to run a more efficient and effective business.  So much of construction involves estimates.  In the past these estimates would be time consuming and many times they were just not accurate and this posed a lot of problems.  These issues can be left in the past when you begin using estimating software and other tools that are available to you.

Wonder what tools are available to you and why you should use them?  Takeoff software is what most construction corporations are using now.  The reason for this is that it makes plan management simple and effortless.  With these programs you are often able to make use of see through plan overlays that line up and allow you to see bearing points and so much more.  In addition you’ll be able to use the software to find areas and calculate totals faster than you have ever been able to before.

Why are these takeoff tools important?  Instead of taking days to bid on a job you can sit at the site and create your bid in relatively little time and present it to the buyer.  This will allow you to secure more jobs and ensure your success.  In addition, when you use this type of software your bids will be more accurate than they were in the past when you were finding areas and making measurements in your head.  This will ensure that you place a bid that will more than cover your expected costs so you can make money through the process!  It doesn’t matter if your company is big or small, this type of software is a great investment that, once you start using it, you’ll wonder how you ever created and placed a bid without it!

If you have not begun using this type of software you should start shopping around and see what is out there.  There are many different programs to choose from ranging from those that are quite simple and only do a couple of things to those that have all of the bells and whistles and will allow you to not only create your bids but also control payroll and so much more!  Most of these programs are relatively easy to use and the cost of the software will pay for itself in no time because of how much more efficient and effective you will be when you are on the site.  Be ready to place an accurate bid any time, anyplace by using one of many takeoff and estimating software options that are currently available to you.

The technology explosion has changed the construction industry fundamentally and irrevocably. No single task impacts contractors today more than estimating yet the number one reason construction companies lose money results directly from untimely and inaccurate estimates.

While we at Construction Digital still talk with veteran company principals who reflect wistfully about the days of paper, a slower pace of conducting business, and getting by on guile and the seat of their pants, none are naïve enough to ignore the need to embrace technology at every level if they are to remain successful.

Speed, efficiency, cost management and guaranteed ROI is the name of the game – especially in a recessionary economy where more companies are competing for fewer jobs – and that starts with the abundant availability of bid estimating software that offers industry-specific solutions with advanced integration capabilities and ease of use. Many of the top general contracting firms now have secure online bid rooms that allow subcontractors to download and review specs before submitting their bid on jobs.

Here are some of the top products available to contractors today. Though not inexpensive, once implemented they generally pay for themselves in short order.

ProEst® was developed by Construction Management Software, which has been developing software for construction companies since 1976. ProEst® is in use by more than 6,500 firms and produces quick, accurate and competitive bids. Built on Microsoft SQL technology, ProEst®can be integrated with most leading accounting programs, implemented across trades and features industry-specific templates and localized, updated databases.

ProEst® also comes with pre-built databases for general, electrical and mechanical contractors and can be customized to fit the requirements of niche businesses.ProEst®also runs RS Means, required for companies working with government agencies. RS Means databases are complete with city indexes that are used to accurately calculate costs for specific cities or regions.

Bid4Build is a recognized industry leader and winner of numerous awards. User friendly and designed for general and subcontractors of all sizes and specialties, Bid4Build relies on an extensive database that generates bids, creates cost estimates and reports quickly and accurately across a broad range of projects.

The program’s Estimate Advisor Wizard walks users through a five-step process for building an estimate. Perhaps Bid4Build’s most attractive feature is the fact its extensive item cost database can be customized by adding, deleting or changing both line entries and line item costs.

Sage estimating tools have long ranked among the industry’s most respected and reliable. Sage Timberline Office construction software provides tools such as multiple take-off options, specific pricing databases and integration with accounting systems that build profitability into each job. The databases are easily modified to fit company-specific requirements. Timberline Office also provides the capability of integrating with RS Means for working with government agencies.

On Center Software was founded in 1988 by a group of construction professionals. Since then the company has been driven in its development of fast and accurate takeoff and bidding software.  The company’s premier program, On-Screen Takeoff Professional®, is reputedly capable of cutting takeoff time in half because of the speed with which it allows the user to count objects, measure straight and curved lengths, and calculate area and volume. That efficiency in turn theoretically translates into the opportunity to bid on more jobs and enhance the bottom line.

PlanSwift boldly touts itself as “the No. 1 construction takeoff and estimating software” on its website. Applicable to both the commercial and residential sectors, this relatively inexpensive point-and-click program has a small learning curve and is easy to use.

Clear Estimates works from a database crafted by RemodelMAX and can be customized to fit the needs of any trade. The program quickly determines project cost and produces a variety of reports and proposals. The program maintains customer and project databases, processes change order, integrates with QuickBooks Pro and updates price information via an automated price updating service.

Among sector-specific programs, BID2WIN is designed to manage the estimating and bidding processes for heavy/highway contractors. Driven by a Microsoft SQL Server database, it can sustain more than 1,000 simultaneous users without diminished performance.

Favored among electrical contractors, McCormick Systems, Inc was founded by an electrical contractor andhas been developing award-winning estimating software for all facets of the industry — residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and single story to multi-story – for nearly 30 years. With five different estimating systems, McCormick can provide the right solution for companies of any size, ranging from the one-man shop to the global powerhouse.

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