Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Mar 23, 1999 07:10am | #1

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   One of those books has a disclaimer in the front somewhere that, loosely transalated, says if you use this book to do estimates then you're an idiot. With that in mind, I regularly use both Craftsman and RS Means books with good results. Some stuff is so wildly off that it's almost funny, but other things are right on. Gives you a fair idea of what the industry standard is, anyways, what I usually do is two parallel estimates, one from my experience and one from the book... if they aren't close, I look into the reason. Now, what about Walker, can anyone tell me if they've had good experiences with them? I was thinking about getting some of their books...

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   Guest_ | Mar 23, 1999 08:50am | #2

   *Great advice from ross. I usually use the craftsman books as a guideline nd my own knowledge for the other estimates and then compare notes.Pete Draganic

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   Guest_ | Mar 27, 1999 04:20am | #3

   *Hometech makes the best books, I hit about 50% of bids off this book.

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   Guest_ | Mar 28, 1999 12:57am | #4

   *We use the HomeTech program. The prices for sub-trades are often within a few hundred dollars.Jon

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   Justin_Campbell | Mar 28, 1999 06:59am | #5

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   I have been sweating it out over some fairly involved remodeling bids and was wondering if anyone has suggestions concerning standardizing a process for recording all the info you need from the site to put together a good bid. Extra trips to get that one last measurement don't cut it. Also, a little more info on those books mentioned would be helpful (i.e. publisher).

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   trimman98 | Mar 29, 1999 02:11am | #6

   *I've tried all sorts of estimating programs, and have finally given up on them, at least for my remodelling and trim business. Instead of commercially available programs or estimating books, I have set up a spreadsheet estimator of my own. I started out using the CSI breakdown, then refined it. In the end I simply went through the building process in my mind and added items to my spreadsheet. The CSI system, initially, helped me "not forget" anything.Pricing is done by setting up a database that I update monthly by checking prices at my primary materials suppliers. Subs are only a phone call away, and after a while working with one or two specific subs, you can usually "ball park" their costs for "normal" jobs. In my market area -- a predominately retiree market in west central Florida-- my estimates and final proposal figures have to be fairly right on or the job goes to someone else. My homebrewed estimating system has worked for me and I don't lose too many jobs to overpricing. My only problem is "fly-by-nighters" that lowball just to get the weekend job.

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   Dennis_Bryant | Apr 05, 1999 02:54am | #7

   *Four or five years ago I settled on the Northwest Construction Software program for estimating. I supplement it with HomeTec which I find fairly useful. RS Means has been almost useless. The main reason why the NCS program is useful is because it allows you to build your own data base quite easily and then link it in various combinations. I hope they will produce a Windows version to replace the DOS version I'm still using.

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   KC_O'neill | Apr 05, 1999 02:54am | #8

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   Does anyone use the RSMEANS or the Craftsman estimation books or programs for doing cost estimates at all? What has been your luck? They seem high, and I usually use a line by line method, but hey, maybe they are worth a try?