Wasting Time
Article taken from inSite Magazine October 2007
A recent survey highlighted that on average builders waste 67 days a year providing quotes and estimates for jobs many don’t win. In addition, it was found that builders would on average have to provide up to seven quotes in order to win one new contract.
However with more and more builders starting to embrace IT, the problem of wasting time producing quotes that never materialise into work appear to be changing.
And this use of IT seems to be working, particularly when used in conjunction with estimating packages like HBXL’s EstimatorXpress, which helps produce quotes and estimates that itemise costs right down to the last screw, as well as profit prediction and the expected time it will take to complete the project.
Historically, builders would use their experience to cost up a job and use approximate square footage ratios. The problem with this method is that for a start it doesn’t take into account changes to material costs. Secondly, the price of a brick can vary anything upto 300% and unpredictable costs such as changing labour rates, groundwork issues and internal finishes are not taken into account.
A builder’s profit margin can be quite small and with approximate estimates they can soon find their margins dwindling away.
The main advantage of using software such as EstimatorXpress is that it reduces the time spent producing estimates, allowing more time on site. For example before using EstimatorXpress builders would on average spend 4.5 hours estimating a job. After using EstimatorXpress, this reduced to an average of 1.6 hours with 80% of the users taking less than an hour.
The overall effect of this means that builders are able to quote for more jobs and win more work, with some building firms looking to expand as they find they can tender jobs a lot faster, easier and more accurately with the software.
Building Revolution:
Since its arrival on the market, EstimatorXpress has revolutionised the way professional builders approach the job.
Linking directly into local builders merchants price lists, which are updated continuously, all quotes provided are totally accurate.
It also provides the user with expert user knowledge and handy hints, and EstimatorXpress suggests what materials, labour and plant will be needed to complete the job, from quantities of sand required, to bricks and wall ties. The software even suggests material order dates ensuring materials arrive on site on time!
In addition, clear building drawings allow the user to visualise the project that they are planning to construct, such as foundations, walls and roofs’ which helps with the costing of the job.
All users have do is input the dimensions into the on-screen drawings and the software does the rest. At a time when the industry is looking to improve the way it presents itself, EstimatorXpress produces professionally laid out quotes and reports which gives the customer an understandable overview of their project.
The beauty of the package is that it is so easy to use and it’s the only software of its kind to give you up to the minute prices for materials via the internet.
It will produce costings, schedules, profit forecasts, build programs and other reports at the touch of a button. That way builders and their customers know that the quotes they are given are totally accurate.
Fortunately members wanting to learn more will be pleased to know that HBXL has now joined the NFB. Members will therefore be able to take advantage of some unique offers helping them become more competitive and win more work saving them huge amounts of time in the process.
