There’s a lot of talk amongst contractors about construction estimating software. But what is it, why do you need it, and how do you use it?
What is it?
Construction estimating software does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s computer, phone or tablet software that helps you accurately estimate the costs of your construction jobs.
There are many estimating software packages on the market, but they’re not all created equally, and many of them haven’t been created with your specific needs in mind.
Buildxact is different. It’s next-generation software that’s uniquely designed for small residential builders and renovators like you.
Buildxact not only cuts quoting time by 80% with digital takeoff tools and reusable estimate templates, but it also includes powerful job management tools for scheduling and supplier management, and financial tools to keep your admin and budgets under control. It even helps you build more collaborative relationships with your suppliers, streamlining the purchasing and delivery process.
Why do you need it?
You need Buildxact construction estimating software because it will change your working life forever, massively reducing the time taken to do previously labour-intensive tasks, giving you more time back to spend on the business or with the family.
Not only that, but it will also help you nail your costs and be more profitable while providing superior customer service.
How do you use it?
Using Buildxact to create an accurate estimate is easy.
The first step is to upload a pdf of the plans onto your computer, phone or tablet. Then, using your mouse, you click on the areas you want to measure up for materials. For example, if you’re measuring a wall, you click and drag the mouse over the surface area of the wall on the plans. You can even decide to remove the space required for windows or leave them in to allow for wastage.
Then, you click on the tick-box next to the material you’re measuring for, which in the case of the wall, might be bricks, masonry paint or render and the software creates a list of the exact quantity required for the job. It then assigns costs to each item from its cost database that you’ve previously uploaded, or it can connect directly to your preferred supplier for a live price list.
Carry on doing this for all other areas of your plan, and in no time, you’ll have accurate material quantities and prices for steels, roofing, woodwork, flooring, insulation, plumbing, rental items, in fact everything you need for the project.
A few more clicks to add each material and price line to your estimate, and you’re done. A finished professional-looking quote for your customer, and if they want to make changes, no problem, you’re only a few seconds away from generating an amended quote.
Estimating with Buildxact construction estimating software really is that simple. Gone are the days of spending hours poring over plans, methodically taking measurements, writing up the quantities of the materials and calling suppliers or spending time on their websites to source prices.
Not only will you produce estimates five times faster, but you’ll also take out the risk of measuring something incorrectly or pricing it wrongly, both of which can have a catastrophic effect on your profit margins.
What do I do next?
It’s super-easy to get started. Just click here for a free trial or demo and see how straightforward it is to use. Don’t forget, it’s designed with small residential builders and renovators in mind, so it thinks the way you need it to.
Once you decide to start using Buildxact, you’ll have a one-to-one onboarding session, and we won’t finish the session until you’re 100% confident that you know how to use it.
Give it a go, and you’ll soon wonder how you managed without it.
