How to estimate building work more quickly

There’s a way to estimate building projects faster whilst increasing your profit margins. Sounds too good to be true? It’s not. All you need is the right builder estimating software.

Estimate building projects faster

Choose software which uses pre-loaded quote templates, and you’ll be estimating extensions in hours, not days. For example, EstimatorXpress by HBXL Building Software features hundreds of templates to estimate extensions, new builds, conservatories, garages and renovation work. Each intelligent template includes relevant material, labour and plant costs. Select the template which is most suitable for your job, enter the overall dimensions and check the specification options. For example, is it a truss or cut roof? A vaulted or flat ceiling? Plain-tiles, pan-tiles, slates? Specify as you go and the software updates the costs in real time. Then with one-click, EstimatorXpress writes a professional customer quotation showing as much detail as you’d like.

Alternatively, choose software which enables you to design and estimate in one fell swoop. With BuildingWorks by Integro Software, as you design your plans the costs update live on screen so you can see the instant impact of dimension or specification changes. There’s far less data to enter due to the seamless integration between the Design and Estimate modules of the software. BuildingWorks also produces Bill of Quantities tender documents automatically – or a more traditional quotation to share with a residential client.

Time-saving features

Estimating software can save you time in other ways. Look for software which uses up-to-date material prices. If you can download current prices directly into your software, you’ll save hours scouring the internet or ringing around merchants to check prices every time you put together a quote.

Ensure the software you choose calculates labour, plant and preliminary costs (I’m talking site surveys, design fees, planning applications etc.) as well as materials. You want software that covers everything – and that includes inflation. Choose estimating software which automatically calculates inflation for you and you won’t have to spend any time working out how the job costs will change over the next 6 or 12 months, before the project is complete. EstimatorXpress and BuildingWorks include all of these time-saving features.

Profit-making features

How profitable is your building firm at the moment? Are you making a profit this year? Many builders are busy but not making decent money. The success of your business is measured by your profits, not your turnover. Profit isn’t a luxury. Every business needs money in the bank as a buffer for when times are tough – when there are project delays, late payments, mistakes and so on. It’s essential that your estimating software allows you to, firstly, add on your profit margin and, secondly, analyse your profitability through profit reports. And this brings me to my final point… With a high-quality customer quotation to match your premium building work, you can justify increasing your profit margin further.

Next steps

To estimate building projects more quickly, get your pricing accurate and improve your profits, compare some of the estimating software packages on the market.

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BuilderTrend versus EstimatorXpress by HBXL

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Why wouldn’t you want estimating software for your building firm?