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Construction estimating program

Rbcconst

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What are the GC’s using to bud there jobs on? Not looking for something that generates or has pre loaded numbers. Im looking for something with templates to estimate from. I currently use quickbooks but i have had it, since they switched to the online program it licks dick. At least 4 times now i have gotten to the bottom of my estimate, clicked save and it takes me to the log in screen, when i log in my estimate is fuggin gone!


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Icky

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Since I've never used quickbooks......... can you create an excel spreadsheet that does the same thing?
 

Rbcconst

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Since I've never used quickbooks......... can you create an excel spreadsheet that does the same thing?

Im not sure. Excel maxes out how much you can type in the description box. In quickbooks i can type as much as i need.


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rmarion

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same MS Dos program we converted to Excell .... 35 years ago... LOL
 

rmarion

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Im not sure. Excel maxes out how much you can type in the description box. In quickbooks i can type as much as i need.


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Excel has like 60,000 lines.... thatd be one HUGE PROJECT!!
 

Rbcconst

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I use Excel. Just made my own template. You can make your boxes as big as you need.

Sounds like i might need to do the same.


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Icky

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Im not sure. Excel maxes out how much you can type in the description box. In quickbooks i can type as much as i need.


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I'm not sure how you break down your stuff, or how you do your billing. I just watched a tutorial on quickbooks quoting, would never work for what I do.

I have a template spread sheet that I use and break it down per job in the rows. each column has things like materials, fabrication man hours , rentals etc etc. That all multiplies for me, so I can break it down anyway I want.
 

evantwheeler

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We use Hard Dollar. We’re on the larger side of things doing big municipal underground work. For small commercial or residential construction, I’d just build a spreadsheet.
 

C-2

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Isn't Xactimate popular and reasonable as a stand-alone product?
 

DLC

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I made my own but it always needs to be tweaked some, depends on project and type of project. I have 3 different types.

I’m a small contractor.
 

Done-it-again

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We have our own that has been passed down for 25+ years....... This even includes travel and expenses as most of our work is out of town (in other states). But like it was mentioned it needs some adjusting from time to time, and you need to have a pretty good idea what it would take to complete the task(s) or your expenses can shoot though the roof.

I've always wondered if there was something else out there as well though......
 

Mandelon

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Isn't Xactimate popular and reasonable as a stand-alone product?


Crazy expensive. Mainly for insurance work. I believe you have to pay a subscription fee to get regular pricing updates.
 
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McKay

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We use Accubid which has been bought out by Trimble.
 

Hammer

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Which one of you cares to share? I’ll show you mine if you show me yours? [emoji23]


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MrsVP

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What are the GC’s using to bud there jobs on? Not looking for something that generates or has pre loaded numbers. Im looking for something with templates to estimate from. I currently use quickbooks but i have had it, since they switched to the online program it licks dick. At least 4 times now i have gotten to the bottom of my estimate, clicked save and it takes me to the log in screen, when i log in my estimate is fuggin gone!


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Have you downloaded it to your desktop?
We use QuickBooks and I haven't had that problem (I also save every now and then, because I'm used to my design program crashing and then I'm screwed).

We used to use 17Hats, but recently switched back to QB. Great portal, easy to use. My only issue? No progress billing from an estimate. You have to make an invoice.
 

Rbcconst

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Have you downloaded it to your desktop?
We use QuickBooks and I haven't had that problem (I also save every now and then, because I'm used to my design program crashing and then I'm screwed).

We used to use 17Hats, but recently switched back to QB. Great portal, easy to use. My only issue? No progress billing from an estimate. You have to make an invoice.
I like qb because we use our payroll. I did download it and its the same, it works off the internet still. I have had issues on both the online and downloaded. Also there is a easily clickable button on the estimate "delete all'. You also can't pre load sheets like you could if you had an estimating template. Some of my estimates are 60 line items so if it deletes it or doesn't save my work then im screwed for at least another hour of double work. QB also freezes a lot for the rest of the office.
 

Rbcconst

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Isn't Xactimate popular and reasonable as a stand-alone product?
Xactimate is more of an estimating software that has pre loaded sqft and lnft pricing. I don't bid that way. I price everything out per job to make sure im not getting screwed. In Xactimate some items are really high and some low.
 

Rbcconst

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I'm not sure how you break down your stuff, or how you do your billing. I just watched a tutorial on quickbooks quoting, would never work for what I do.

I have a template spread sheet that I use and break it down per job in the rows. each column has things like materials, fabrication man hours , rentals etc etc. That all multiplies for me, so I can break it down anyway I want.
I do all the break downs separate and by the time I put it into QB I am writing the scope and putting a dollar amount next to it. I need to do my break downs on an excel sheet like your talking about, great idea.
 

500bbc

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Isn't Xactimate popular and reasonable as a stand-alone product?
Exactimate is designed to favor insurance companies and you can't plug in real world prices per quantity.
I'm looking for something similar that you can adjust to real world costing, like my oooollllddd DOS software.:mad:
 

white tortilla

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Im a GC. I use a 16 division excel file that i generated myself and make revisions to for my estimates and then carry the same file onto billing. $15M project last year was able to be managed using my excel file. It can get a little dense with a couple of different sheets and formulas running around in circles but its easy to manage, edit, and its very transparent for me.
 

Rbcconst

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Im a GC. I use a 16 division excel file that i generated myself and make revisions to for my estimates and then carry the same file onto billing. $15M project last year was able to be managed using my excel file. It can get a little dense with a couple of different sheets and formulas running around in circles but its easy to manage, edit, and its very transparent for me.

Sounds like ill need to build all my own to have what i need. Ive looked as some of the programs out there and they all either dont have enough, have way to much or it doesnt apply to a GC.


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rivergames

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I'm a tile sub. Excel is a great tool. Over the years, our shop has put together a spreadsheet to estimate and manage large tile projects.

I bid and landed the new Rams stadium with many many tiles on the job using my excel spreadsheet.

You need to learn the functions. I still don't fully know everything excel can do, but I know what I need to get the job done. If I didn't know anything about excel, I'd definitely sign up for a class to learn!
 

Canuck 1

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Exactimate is designed to favor insurance companies and you can't plug in real world prices per quantity.
I'm looking for something similar that you can adjust to real world costing, like my oooollllddd DOS software.:mad:

You can adjust the pricing to match real world if it is out and add your own templates to match your projects. Cost is 1500 per year US per station
 

500bbc

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You can adjust the pricing to match real world if it is out and add your own templates to match your projects. Cost is 1500 per year US per station
Not when I was using it. Was told the "adjustments" were only from data supplied by users to keep the program updated.
 

C-2

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I know insurance adjusters use Xactimate, but when used by a knowledgeable contractor, it's pretty solid. Admin law judges accept Xactimate as the gospel and few defense attorneys can find fault with it. We see it used all the time after a contractor abandons a job and a cost to complete is required.

I was told the cost is reasonable, but it looks prohibitive for the guy who does only a few projects per year.
 
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