Construction Estimating
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Calculated Industries 4050 Construction Master 5 Construction Calculator $47.23 The Construction Master 5 is fun to use. Quickly find solutions to building and dimensional problems that seem to come-up and you haven’t used the math formulas for years. Enter the numbers, just as you would say them, and the solutions appear in an instant they’re built-in to your Construction Master 5. Reduce the risk of expensive errors when estimating dimensions, costs and materials. Save time… |
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Calculated Industries 6025 Scale Master Pro Digital Plan Measure $53.59 72 built in scales, 39 imperial (feet and inch), and 33 metric for maximum versatility in architectual, engineering, and civil scaling. 6 custom scales. 2 built in memories solve area and volume. Store and recall length, width, and height values. Accumulate linear, area, and cubic values. Provides most needed dimensional units. Subtract key allows you to subtract rolled distances. Boxed…. |
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DEWALT Construction Professional Reference (Dewalt Trade Reference Series) $12.17 This outstanding “answer book” is the perfect professional reference for questions concerning basic building disciplines. The DEWALT Construction Professional Reference features at-a-glance information on hardware sizing, correct nailing patterns, walls and flooring, doors and door openings, roof pitches, stairway stringers, steel, excavation, masonry, and much more! With illustrative diagrams an… |
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QuickBooks Premier Contractor 2012 $249.99 New to QuickBooks? Find out why QuickBooks is the #1 best selling small business accounting software¹. Organize your finances all in one place with accounting software tailored to your business Document and track change orders Instantly turn estimates into invoices and POs, bill clients by job phase Invoice multiple customer at once with Batch Invoicing Manage your jobs with ease using the Job C… |
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Instant Estimator $12.96 Labor and Material Cost EstimatingSoftware for Contractors and BuildersProduct InformationEstimate project costs quickly easily and accurately with Instant Estimator – an essential business resource for every successful contractor. When it comes to construction costs nobody likes surprises. Instant Estimator puts the tools you need for accurate cost projections right at your fingertips. Esti… |
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MyInvoices & Estimates Deluxe $39.99 Get paid with speed- use the Avanquest MyInvoices & Estimates Deluxe 10 Software! Simply change invoices to estimates in one click, accept checks, credit cards and ATM/debit cards, and even include a PayPal® link in your email messages to customers…. |
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UTG 4×40 Full Size Mil-Dot RGB Zero Resetting Scope with Picatinny Rings $52.75 Rifle scope• Revolutionary Triple S Structure (Smart Spherical Structure) for the most effective telescopic functions • 5 extended eye relief and great field of view• Mil-dot range estimating reticle • Target turrets with zero reset feature• Dynamic scope body design featuring side wheel red/green illumination rheostat • Quick aim and instant lock on targets from 7 to… |
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Calculated Industries 4019 Materials Estimating Calculator $25.72 The Material Estimator is designed for contractors, trades people, and estimators who need to estimate materials and costs for concrete, fences, decks, bricks, tile, flooring, gravel, painting, drywall, panelling, and more. It helps users quickly and easily calculate material costs and allowances, and get exactly the materials they need. Reducing estimating errors will same time and money. Solar/b… |
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RSMeans Building Construction Cost Data 2012 (Means Building Construction Cost Data) $104.99 RSMeans Building Construction Cost Data 2012 is the most used, quoted, and respected unit price guide available to the construction industry. It is the professional estimator’s first choice for reliable price data for accurate budgeting and estimating, with more than 23,000 completely updated unit price lines…. |
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Applying Mathematics to Construction: Carpentry Mathematics & Estimating BlessedMusic to ConstructionMusic had always been my first career choice until I was told how rare it was to see musical jobs posted at the unemployment office. Encouraged by my sister Cynthia and my mother Jessie, I enrolled into the carpentry program at the Louisiana Vocational trade school. As soon as I completed the program, I went to work for a small construction company. After two years of h… |
Using Construction Estimating Software and Technology to Survive in Today’s Brutal Environment
Technology is not the answer to all the problems of the world, but it is a great solution to the needs of Construction Management. And unconditionally the most important first step in embracing technology is selecting and utilizing the best construction estimating software. Remember, without good construction estimating you do not need accounting, sales, crews, buildings, trucks etc; without a good construction estimating you won’t be able to stay in business.
Remember in today’s brutal market, survival is directly related to being a leading company that stays ahead of the competition, maintains loyal customers, and always makes an above average profit. Proper automation and utilization of construction estimating software can allow a struggling Construction Company to get out of the doldrums and become seriously profitable.
Sadly, some surveys even indicate that staying on the cutting edge of technology was just not a priority with many construction companies. For those that do care, most of these companies are scrambling to catch up with computerization, construction estimating software, backend software management systems, etc. and are too often content doing the minimum to stay even with their competitors and customers.
One of your company’s goals should be to become a technology leader. Consider hiring only those project managers or superintendents who are totally literate in email, word processing, scheduling, and construction estimating software.
Failing to cater to your customer’s needs and demands for your implementation of technology can cost you business; it can make or brake your company. It is estimated that 65% of construction companies communicate with architects and engineers with email, and more than 75% use email to be in contact with customers. A growing number of contractors use the internet for job correspondence with other contractors, subcontractors, or suppliers. Virtually all construction buyers feel that contractors using construction estimating software provide more accurate quotes.
Quite often we find contractors that pay “lip service” to their clients and make claims of their companies being computerized, but in reality most do not manage their business with any type of automation. Only about 10% use the internet to submit invoices or progress payments to customers, and virtually none use the internet to transmit their construction estimating software bids.
The Construction Industry is considerably behind the times compared to others. In the retail business, products are ordered, produced, shipped, paid for, and re-ordered without a single piece of paper.
Construction still requires paper invoices, original and notarized signatures, conditional and final lien releases, joint checks, architect and bank inspector approvals, and copies for everyone involved. This is truly unfortunate because construction estimating software and technology can just as easily allow construction companies to go paperless.
Computers are becoming more of a required tool as at least 50% of project managers carry laptops while only around 25% of field supervisors have or use a computer. Many of these computers are used only for email and basic communications but very few are using these computers to dynamically link their construction estimating software and backend systems to the field
About one half of construction companies use some type of scheduling software. Strongly consider upgrading your scheduling software to a more sophisticated, cutting- edge, comprehensive package that allows you to import bids from your construction estimating software. By doing so, your proposals for projects will be put ahead of your competition and often is a major factor in winning the job.
Technology will save you cash.
Overhead expenses can most often be reduced by at least 25% by implementing and maximizing the use of technology and construction estimating software. It can help you become much more efficient as you eliminate paper, faxes, mail for project minutes, job correspondence, shop drawing tracking, subcontract logs, change order requests, daily job reports, and many other items.
It’s very surprising that only 20% of subcontractors and 33% of general contractors use a comprehensive project management software package. Regrettably, very few construction companies are dynamically linking their project management and scheduling software with their construction estimating software.
Remember, the construction estimating software bid in the start of every project. It is the heart of your business. You are assured of missing labor, materials, subcontracting, equipment and other miscellaneous costs and functions if you fail to dynamically link your entire project via the construction estimating software system.
Of course, all of these statistics may not really surprise you. Many contractors consider themselves computer illiterate, and most feel that they have only the most basic skills in using a computer. Maybe that’s not surprising when most contractors would say that their kids know more about computers than they do.
The world is changing and technology is a reality. Companies who realize these facts become leaders, while those who don’t fall behind and never catch up. Using construction estimating software coupled with other basic technology can make you more efficient, more professional, help you win more profitable contracts, keep track of job costs, and make you money.
Are you keeping up with technology?
About the Author
Phillip P Gilliam is a devoted husband and father to three daughters. He has lived in Florida for over 20 years and originally comes from Dayton, Ohio. He has a passion for business management, marketing and finance and has been utilizing software and technology for over 37 years. He is currently the President and CEO of Discover Software Inc., which is a construction estimating software company. http://www.easyestimating.com
looking for free downloadable construction estimating software/programs?
Good question – let me know if you find one that is free!
I DID find a reasonable one on e-Bay – not free, of course. But one fella had put some time and effort into creating one that can be tailored to your area’s current material prices.
You can now also find them for many specialties such as drywall, excavating, electrical, concrete, roofing, etc.
If you use QuickBooks, as I do, for my contracting work, they have partnered with other companies that create estimate and bid programs that work integrally with QuickBooks – the estimate/bids load into QuickBooks and become orders and invoices.
Construction Estimating for Contractors
In by gone days all a contractor had to do was give the customer good quality and good service and he/she would be set. Then set back and let your customers do your selling for you. They would tell a friend and then that friend would tell a friend. Your phone would be ringing off the hook. I remember as an Architectural designer some days I would have up to four people wanting to schedule appointments for designs. Those days are long gone! But Fear Not! Click Here For Help
