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The choices are overwhelming! Does anyone have any suggestions for an estimating program that they have had good luck with?
*Don't know what type of work you do, or how advanced a program you are looking for. I do remodeling and usually small scale projects. I have the Craftsman CD Estimator. Works well for my little expectations! Generally I use it to double check my own numbers. Seems pretty thorough. I have the '98 version, and just bump up the numbers if I think they're low. You can put in your own costs, and create your own catagories. I plug in my numbers when I have specifics, but haven't programed anything in yet. It's pretty easy to change the crew size and labor charges. Even prints out an itemized proposal. I don't ask much and it gives more each time I actually sit down and follow the instructions! Probably alot more to it than I've used it for. Jeff
*I used to do it by hand, but after seeing the articles in JLC on MS Excel, built my own based on a template I found online; one for remodeling, one for new construction (spec houses). Every time I do a project, I find that I refine them a little more, adding and deleting stuff I don't need. I also use MS Project to track larger projects, which works out very well for me. I tried some of the commerically available programs, but I must admit that I'm not very computer literate, so I had a hard time both understanding them and justifying their cost. I think you probably need a certain level of education, experience, and comfort in whatever format or program you use to make it worth your while.
*We use the hometech cost estimator, Craftsmen's CD estimator, a bunch of books and our own judgement. Hometech is on the high side, If I can get it great but not always. Usually good of the customer is a higher rent district type. Material costs are not very accurate, but good on the labor side.
*I have been using Construction Data Control Inc.'s (CDCI) BasicESt program. It isn't super fancy but works well and is based on an excel template- easy to use and very adjustable to your own needs.
*does anyone have any imformation on an all in one estimating - accounting software package for a small remodeling company.any comments on "turtle creek" ?
*John,I've moved up to SoftPLAN with the SoftLIST module but its pretty expensive. I had used Generic Estimator for quite a few years but I don't know if it is still available. It originally worked with Generic CADD but after Autodesk bought them out the upgrades would not allow you to link back and forth between the programs. It was nice to be able to add seperate waste, tax, inflation and labor percentages to the numbers as well as profit markups per item or per bid.
*Dan, I have been using MacNail by Turtle Creek for almost 5 years. The accounting module is kind of awkward. They are working on a new version now. I'm waiting to see how much better it handles it.Lately I've been trying to build my own estimating database using Excel.
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