The Key to Home Renovation

With almost 90% of building projects going over budget, if you’re thinking about extending your home, renovating an older building or creating a new house from scratch it really is vital to get your budget right from the very beginning. But this can be a case of easier said than done. With the average project finishing 120% later than planned – it’s a stark reminder of the difficulty of project management.

However, before you run to the hills in fear of spending too much on your new venture or celebrating Christmas in a caravan, there is help at hand in the form of HBXL’s award-winning EstimatorXpress self-build software.

As recommended on the Channel 4 website, EstimatorXpress is regarded as a great project management tool for self-builders. The easy-to-use software has transformed the building sector to make sure projects finish on time and within budget.

How EstimatorXpress works

Using easy to understand on-screen drawings, all you have to do is input the dimensions of your project. EstimatorXpress does the rest, providing a total breakdown of labour, material, plant and tool costs, right down to the last screw. That way, you know exactly where your money is being spent, and can benchmark against any quotes from contractors and sub-contractors to ensure you get the best value.

The software is accurate because it downloads prices direct from local builders merchants’ websites, so the costs given are up to date. It also helps you understand building terminology, as it guides you through each phase of the build, and eliminates the issue of forgetting to factor for materials, labour or plant hire. It will even allow for material wastage to ensure your budget is spot on!

Project management made easy

Another key feature of the software is its ability to automatically produce a full-build schedule that clearly highlights each stage of the project. It outlines what materials need to be ordered – when, in what order – and when the contractor starts and finishes.

Design your dream home

For those who want to take control of their project that one step further by drawing up the design, HBXL’s PlansXpress Self Build edition is the answer. With this software, you can produce architect-quality plans, home designs and 3D visuals. So now you can draw your dream home or property renovation – and save money on architect fees. All you have to do is lay out the plans on-screen using intuitive drag and drop tools, selecting as they go using the software’s comprehensive library of construction and architectural symbols.

Design, estimate and project management in one go!

Importing the plans from PlansXpress into EstimatorXpress will allow you to automatically price up the building drawings. This means that the entire plan and design will be automatically priced and scheduled at just the click of a button.