Construction Estimating Software Reviews

Construction industry is responsible for the fabulous infrastructure of modern day. Some of the products of the construction industry are houses, apartments, factories, offices, schools, roads, and bridges. Today construction industry offers more opportunities than most other industry for individuals who want to start and run their own business. It is a known fact that it is absolutely important to accurately forecast the scope, cost, and duration of future projects for the survival of any business. In any business cost estimators develop the cost information that business owners or managers need to make a bid for a contract of a proposed new product or project. Irrespective of the industry in which they work, estimators compile and analyze data on all of the factors, which can influence costs, such as materials, labor, location, duration of the project and special machinery requirements, including computer hardware and software.

Construction estimation is a tedious job as it requires the estimator to work with engineers, first reviewing blueprints or conceptual drawings to determine the machining operations, tools, gauges, and materials that would be required. The next step is that the estimator prepares a parts list and determines whether it is more efficient to produce or to purchase the parts, which requires him to ask for price information from potential suppliers. Then the estimator prepares time-phase charts. Using all of this gathered information the estimator then calculates the standard labor hours necessary to produce a specified number of units. Standard labor hours are then converted, to which factors for waste, overhead, and profit to yield the unit cost in dollars are added. The estimator then compares the cost of purchasing parts with the firm’s estimated cost of manufacturing them to determine which is cheaper or more economical.

Construction Estimating Software

However construction estimation can be easily done in a timely fashion by the use of estimating software. Computers play an important role in cost estimation because estimating often involves complex mathematical calculations and requires advanced mathematical techniques. Today new and improved construction estimating software has lead to more efficient computations, leaving estimators greater time to visit and analyze projects. A large number of computer aided cost estimation software systems are now available. These construction estimation software ranges in sophistication from simple spreadsheet calculation software to integrated systems involving design and price negotiation over the Internet.

Some of the common features of computer aided cost estimation software include databases for unit cost items such as worker wage rates, equipment rental. If these rates change, cost estimates can be rapidly re-computed after updating the databases. An export utility to send estimates to cost control and scheduling software is very helpful to begin the management of costs during construction. Another attractive feature is the version control to allow simulation of different construction processes or design changes for the purpose of tracking changes in expected costs.

Examples of Construction Estimating Software

Few construction estimating software available are:

• Bid4Build: It is one of the most advanced, easy to use, construction estimating software systems available. It is designed for all sizes of general & subcontractors, and is well suited for all types of residential construction, insurance estimating, home remodeling projects and many areas of commercial construction.
• QuickMeasure: It is the windows based software that allows the construction estimator to do takeoffs from blueprints quickly and accurately.
• Maxwell Systems Quest Estimating: It is fast, accurate and easy-to-use estimating software for medium to large construction firms. It organizes and maintains the cost data, from the digitized takeoff to costs for materials, equipment and labor.
• Clear Estimates: is an easy-to-use program that allows you to quickly determine a project's cost in a variety of fashions, manage and customize a part library, maintain a customer and project database, produce several types of reports and proposals, process change orders.
• Sage Master Builder: It creates faster, more accurate and more profitable estimates and is a fully integrated construction management software solution designed exclusively for the construction industry. It helps to gain better control and win more-profitable bids, finish jobs faster, collect money quicker.
• Accubid: it is probably the most efficient project estimating software. Accubid Pro has ensured professional and cost effective planning for many.

Half the battle is won with an excellent planning. In a construction business it is vital to choose the software wisely like a great warrior always chooses an excellent piece of weapon. An excellent option for evaluating and choosing from the humongous list available online could be to read reviews online. It can save a lot of time, so good luck and happy bidding!