Avatar

Please consider registering
guest

sp_LogInOut Log In sp_Registration Register

Register | Lost password?
Advanced Search

— Forum Scope —





 

— Match —





— Forum Options —





Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters

sp_TopicIcon
Estimating Software
November 30, 2005
10:03 PM
Avatar
Member
Forum Posts: 573
Member Since:
October 7, 2005
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Unfortunately, when it comes to job cost accounting it is "garbage in, garbage out". Field people naturally want to embellish their productivity. Accounting people don't have enough field experience to know if the field people are being honest or not. It's like the Emperor's New Clothes. Everybody is fearful of telling the owner what is really going on so it usually becomes a rude awakening at the end of the year.

November 30, 2005
4:16 PM
Avatar
Member
Forum Posts: 3
Member Since:
October 13, 2005
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Where can I get one of those bidding dartboards? And are they available with soft tip darts? Our saftey director says that we can't use the steel darts in the office, or on the jobsite. Maybe a combination of dartboard and plan weighing could be developed.

We use Excel too and have customized it to track actual costs on a daily basis. It doesn't replace our accounting department, but is great when comparing how the job should have been bid to how it actually ran.

Al

November 30, 2005
1:26 PM
Avatar
Member
Forum Posts: 573
Member Since:
October 7, 2005
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Yes and no. A new estimator can't really hurt himself too much on the canned packages. A substantial portion of the software company's revenues are from selling the training seminars/classes so they try to put the hard sell on you.

November 30, 2005
12:39 PM
Avatar
Guest

I also use a "modified" excel spreadsheet seems to be the easiest to use. Also when we hire someone it

November 23, 2005
3:10 PM
Avatar
Member
Forum Posts: 573
Member Since:
October 7, 2005
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Ah, so that's why DOE jobs go for so much $$.......

November 23, 2005
1:41 PM
Avatar
Member
Forum Posts: 37
Member Since:
October 7, 2005
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

You guys still use the old dartboard method?

You guys need to upgrade. We have recently upgraded to the new "plan-weighing 2005". This is where you weigh the plans and how much they weigh is the bid plus a couple of zeros.

November 23, 2005
10:29 AM
Avatar
Member
Forum Posts: 573
Member Since:
October 7, 2005
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Yes it is. It has a lot of flexibility which is why I like it. It also allows you to do "what if" scenarios where you can change different values without having to redo the whole spread sheet like in Excel.

November 23, 2005
10:13 AM
Avatar
Member
Forum Posts: 5298
Member Since:
August 29, 2005
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

The spinning dartboard is always the best.

I have a demo disk for the Bid2win software I haven't looked at it maybe I will this weekend. Is that the one where you can also "set-up" crews in doing a particular task?

November 22, 2005
10:16 AM
Avatar
Member
Forum Posts: 573
Member Since:
October 7, 2005
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I am currently using an Excell based estimating workbook. It is nice because I have it running on a Blackberry. I can put together an estimate right on the spot. The Blackberry also has a camera so I can take pictures with it also.
I alos have it running on a Toughbook which is a nice computer because it is shock and dust resistant as well as waterproof.
Excell gives you a lot of flexibility. All of the "canned" estimating software is set up for construction and trying to get it to work for demolition is trying to hammer a square peg into a round hole.
I just finished a consulting contract and the client used a program called Bid2Win. It is pretty nice and it has a module called a data warehouse which stores your historical costs and allows you to arrange it in any manner in which you see fit either by type of structure, city, whatever. I like it so much that I am attending a seminar in December on it.
Then again there always is the good ol' dartboard for bidding :D

November 22, 2005
9:51 AM
Avatar
Member
Forum Posts: 5298
Member Since:
August 29, 2005
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

[font=Times New Roman][size=3]Dusteater,[/size][/font]

[font=Times New Roman][size=3] [/size][/font]

[font=Times New Roman][size=3]I do not have any experiences with timberline or programs like it. I have an Excel workbook that I am using and customized it. I have heard of people use a customized MS Access program, where they would enter information of the job and then they could pull up similar jobs and do a comparison by SF, Price, or by contractor. I am not very proficient in Access so I wouldn

November 18, 2005
6:48 PM
Avatar
Member
Forum Posts: 28
Member Since:
October 22, 2005
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

We have always performed our estimates long hand with three column pads, notebook paper, napkin or just a good old piece of wood. I have been in the process of setting up a system with a windows spreadsheet, however, I would like a way to use the data after the estimate. Has anyone utilized estimating / project management software, ie timberline, etc....

Forum Timezone: America/New_York

Most Users Ever Online: 429

Currently Online:
52 Guest(s)

Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)

Top Posters:

James: 5298

demobud: 817

Robert Kulinski: 573

1Pyro: 548

autoparter: 534

Member Stats:

Guest Posters: 48

Members: 3037

Moderators: 0

Admins: 2

Forum Stats:

Groups: 4

Forums: 17

Topics: 19252

Posts: 27485

Administrators: JOHN: 7602, John: 6249