The core of every one of our Solutions is Estimator. Starting with the digitized takeoff and ending with printing the final bid, Estimator is the tool to cary a bid from beginning to end, no matter what you specialize in.

Take out your blueprints and get to work. It all begins on the Takeoff screen. In Estimator, Takeoff is simply a matter of tracing over your plans using a stylus and digitizer board to generate accurate measurements and quantities. The Takeoff screen works with any known scale, can handle multiple sheets, and works with Imperial or metric units. Estimator gives you access to different takeoff tools that allow you to easily digitize lines, areas and count items. You can even add your own custom line styles and symbols.

The Notepad provides you with a list of all items included in the Takeoff, complete with quantities, units of measurement, and room for you to add any notations you feel are necessary. Notepad is a quick-reference tool that lets your organize the information from Takeoff. With 1 mouse-click you can sort these items, convert items from one unit of measurement to another, or get sum totals for your quantities.

All of the information related to your cost items are stored in the Database. The completely customizable database allows you to build your database around your business, and nice vice versa. The database holds an unlimited number of cost items, and details for every single one of them can be edited to reflect changes in real-world costs. Estimator's database is compatible with 3rd-party supplier databases, and even allows you to import old Excel spreadsheets.

The Estimate screen pulls together your quantities and your cost item information to calculate your job totals. Estimate also does more than that-for example; The Global Update feature allows you to apply changes to a broad list of cost items, instead of forcing you to update each item individually. You can allocate your financial cost items, either across all cost items, or, just across those that meet certain criteria.

If you want to play a game of "What if" Alternates is a great way to do so. Also you can chow your clients the cost impacts of adding or removing particular cost items. Simply add an alternate cost item, the change its status as it moves through the approval process. Once approved, it's immediately added to the estimate. There's no limit to the number of alternates you can consider and include.

The summary screen is where you can total costs from your estimate, organized by work breakdown structure codes. Estimator allows complete control over which codes to subtotal. The summary screen also gives you the capability to set baseline costs and compare any changes in the estimate to those baselines.

Learn more about this author, Ethan Womack.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Software reviews: Quest Estimator (construction estimating software)?
We want to hear your view. Write now!