Estimating Software for Plumbing, Mechanical, HVAC & Sheet Metal Contractors

Construction cost estimating software can offer tremendous benefits, but choosing the right program is critical for the success of your business. We have all heard of the horror stories of companies who have invested tens of thousands of dollars in estimating software, only to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars when that software produced inaccurate estimates.

Whether you are looking for plumbing estimating software, industrial piping software, or HVAC estimating software, the first step is to evaluate the vendor!

Money-Back Guarantee – This is critical factor in choosing the best estimating software for your company. Any professional sales person can make their estimating software look easy-to-use, but they can also hide many serious defects such as

1. Difficult setup and configuration
2. Complex labor and material pricing adjustments
3. Special computer hardware requirements
4. Basic program flaws and errors

If estimating software is going to be a critical component of your business, you need to use this software for a couple of months without fear of losing your initial investment. Always demand a Money-Back Guarantee from your software vendor… If they won’t stand behind their product, then neither should you!

User-Friendly Software – If you have ever purchased software that doesn't get used, then you know exactly what I'm talking about.  All software takes some time and effort to get up to speed, but if estimating software is too complicated, it simply won’t get used. This is even more critical if your job requires you to perform other tasks besides estimating… you just won’t have time to re-learn the software each time you start it up!

Identical Look-and-Feel Across Products – Are you purchasing more than one estimating package from the same vendor (such as pipe estimating software and duct estimating software)? If so, then do all packages use the same interface and have the same look-and-feel? This is a critical feature for ease-of-use and will substantially reduce the training and cross-product learning curve within your company. Many software vendors developed their estimating packages separately from each other, so they may have very few features in common. This means training takes twice as long and you have twice as much to remember each time you start up the estimating software. From a vendor's perspective, this also doubles the support and engineering staff (and you pay for this in higher license fees). Furthermore, when you call in for support, you risk getting bounced around until you find someone who is an "expert" on the specific estimating product you have purchased.

Effective Training & Support – All estimating software requires some training and technical support, but you should be wary of vendors that require lengthy training sessions at their company headquarters. While this was typical of the 1980s when computer software was complex and difficult to configure, it is no longer applicable with modern software design.  Aside from transportation costs and lost time, training at a remote location is never as efficient as learning in your own office, using your own software, with your own projects.  Also, most initial setup, program customization and ongoing support is now performed over the Internet (using products such as GoToMeeting.com), allowing you to get up and running within a few hours.

Rapid Implementation – Estimating software will require some initial set-up to match the estimating methods of your company.  Always verify how much software demonstration and training is included with the estimating software. Find out how complicated the installation process is and how long it will take. Be concerned if a software vendor says it will require “professional” onsite installation and configuration… This is often an indication that the software is overly complex and was not developed correctly.

Advanced Technology – Computer technology is constantly changing. Always make certain your estimating software is up-to-date with modern computer capabilities or you risk getting “locked” into an old system that you can’t upgrade. For instance, all modern estimating software should support a graphical-based On-Screen Digitizer capability that is easy to use and tightly integrated with takeoff procedures. You should also be wary of features demonstrated by a professional sales person that aren't available in the released product. Software vendors notoriously over-promise and under-deliver. When in doubt, ask for references of any new feature BEFORE buying it.

Customer Base – Some plumbing estimating software companies have been around for many years; others are new.  Checking references is a key element of evaluating the quality of estimating software and the viability of a software vendor. Always look for references to customers that are similar to your company. Be suspicious of software companies that won’t provide a long list of their customers (or choose to list only a few carefully selected names). Construction practices vary from region to region and you should always demand references within your own geographic region. If a company has a long list of satisfied customers, chances are there is a high level of software functionality and dependability.

The choice of estimating software systems can be complex and daunting. While there are several software vendors providing estimating software, you should carefully analyze any prospective vendor to protect your investment..