Help with estimating software

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bobbyho

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Location
Central Connecticut
I read alot of posts where this particular estimating software has been mentioned with good feedback. I purchased the National Electrical Estimator. I got this a while back and got so busy I never got the chance to learn the system. I barely had the chance to look at the book. Is there a large learning curve on this system? I would like to know if it is plug and play or are there numbers that have to be tweeked to fit my needs. I have at least loaded onto my computer but that is where it ended. If anyone has tips on how to proceed with learning this quickly, please let me know. Thanks for any help.
 
Nee

Nee

I personally think it is a good program. I figure all my time with it. Some of my guys come in way under the listed man hours and some come in right about par. You, personally have to play with it as any estimating program. Not everyone works at the same speed and some are just better in certain areas than others. As far as plug and play, yes its that easy. You can call or email them on the things that you cant figure out and they are very quick to respond.
 
I have used Con_Est and Accubid, and others. You will be entering alot of your own information at first, but once you have your templates (bids) forms down with labor, overhead, material Ect... You will be golden

Always remember that the computer is only as smart as the information you give it.
Double check and Double check again and get the material quotes signed.

These days when estimating jobs of any size, one mistake could be very expensive.

Ask me how I know.:wink:

All of the software out there is good, but the best computer in the world is right between your ears.
 
bobbyho said:
I read alot of posts where this particular estimating software has been mentioned with good feedback. I purchased the National Electrical Estimator. I got this a while back and got so busy I never got the chance to learn the system. I barely had the chance to look at the book. Is there a large learning curve on this system? I would like to know if it is plug and play or are there numbers that have to be tweeked to fit my needs. I have at least loaded onto my computer but that is where it ended. If anyone has tips on how to proceed with learning this quickly, please let me know. Thanks for any help.
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National Electrical Estimator, took me 10 of 15 minutes, to get up and running, and it is very easy to generate bids. Just did a 35 line item bid yesterday took about 20 minutes from start to finish.
 
bobbyho said:
Satcom, one more dumb question. Do you have a different hourly rate that you plug in on the estimate or would you use $80.00 per hour if that was "your going rate"?
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We put in our rate, with all our labor, and overhead, and operating espenses, a going rate, is someone elses errors or guesses, for the estimating program to give accurate bids, you need to have your own accuate costs plugged in. This will allow you to get accurate bids. that earn a profit, and allow you to make money, on every job you bid.


Going rate is ok for traded things, like pork bellies, copper, oil, but construction prices, have no market set pricing. every contractor will have different overhead, different labor, and operating costs, all resulting in a different cost of doing business.
 
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Electrical Estimating Software

Electrical Estimating Software

I have used almost every software on the market and the National Estimator is only a shopping list of products.
The 1st Choice Electrical Estimating System by 1st Choice Electrical Estimating Software is by far the best software on the market for under $300.00.
The product is fully automated and all you do is add quantities.
If you do work over 1 million all of the time AcCubid, Estimation, And Infosoft are close to equal.
 
nunoslg said:
I have used almost every software on the market and the National Estimator is only a shopping list of products.
The 1st Choice Electrical Estimating System by 1st Choice Electrical Estimating Software is by far the best software on the market for under $300.00.
The product is fully automated and all you do is add quantities.
If you do work over 1 million all of the time AcCubid, Estimation, And Infosoft are close to equal.
Click to expand...

I have no idea what software you were looking at but, it was not National Electrical Estimator, I have worked with many of the upper priced prograns, and National Electrical Estimator is far from a shopping list of products, I suggest you give it a look, to see all the features, including full automation, less take off features.
 
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I just ran the demo for 1st Choice Estimating, and I'd have to say it would be my last choice. If you don't know Excel, it might be a low budget way to get going on - but I can do better with the Home Depot estimator that I got for free. They could have at least wrote a GUI and hid the Excel spreadsheet behind it - hey, bet ya they run with that idea. Wonder if they'll give me a cut of the new release profit.
 
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