what estimating software are you using and do you like it?

My company is about 75% steep slope & 25% low slope roofing 99% re-roofing have not done much new construction 2-3 mill. In sales and growing. I have been using excel spreedsheets for the past 10 years. Totally over it we have been doing alot of insurance work last two years so I just started using Aculynx (6weeks) online crm, scheduling, & estimating software, it is geared mainly for insurance residential construction. Not a bad program but is 300 month and not everything I'm looking for. I use RoofCAD for low slope drawings for customer estimates & crews direction. I want a program that intergrates with Android phones & tablets if possible. I want a more cloud based, paper less program that works with quick books online, crm, scheduling, & estimating accurate labor & materials for: shingle, standing seam metal, single-ply's, sheet metal, flashings etc. I hope this paints picture of our needs.... With the above said. what are you currently using? And recommend? Your fellow roofer Fred

excel....yes

I was using excel in combination with Microsoft Office I usually make up a package with excel access and word then hyperlink the items. when doing insurance storm work we used Xactimate as a guide.

Mike some time back you sent me your work sheets from excel I used that as a basis and made and subtracted certain items cost.

Mike H

I'm currently not familiar with The Construction Manager software solution, but would be more than interested in a side-by-side live webinar.

Give me two hours of your time and I will show you the technology of today. estimationPRO clients are experiencing 5 to 15 hours of administration time saved per project.

estimationPRO's direct mission is to provide Fortune 500 class technology to the small – medium – enterprise class contractor.

Integrating to a new software solution is a daunting task, but we have assisted hundreds of clients in doing so.

That's interesting.

Fred

Everything you listed in your post estimationPRO already supports or will by May 15. I would be more than happy to perform a live side-by-side demonstration with your current software provider, or any of our competitors. estimationPRO has the leading technology in the roofing industry, and where willing to prove it.

As for integrating with Android phones or tablets. May 15 estimationPRO will be releasing the first Hybrid Total Business Management System in the world. You will be able to produce an estimate to checking your profit and loss, on any device,anywhere.

estimationPRO also has complete off-line capability, so you can produce your estimates anywhere and simply sync the data to the cloud when the Internet is available.

Rockydog Said: I have to cut my normal price about 11% to work with Xatimate. Insurance work is good BUSY work, helps pay the bills, but thats not where I make my money.

That's interesting. How many line items you averaging on a typical roof? A lot of adjusters will race through a claim and leave out a lot of potential line items and damaged items. Quite often too contractors will leave out line items they could be getting paid for.

For example. If the house has gutters do you charge for drip edge or gutter apron R&R? If you charge for gutter apron R&R do you charge to D&R the gutters to get the gutter apron off? If the house has step flashing are you charging to replace it? If you replace it do you charge for R&R or D&R the siding on top of it?

For a typical roof I typicaly end up with 12-14 line items and some roofs as many as 20+.

As far as my area (MN)_Xactimate and real world pricing are a ways apart. For example. Xactimate maxed out 4/12 roof $375 a square. Open market not insurance $275 a square (competative bid). At $275 I'm the highest bidder quite often!!! My material cost with dump fees and permits average about $150 a square.

I have to cut my normal price about 11% to work with Xatimate. Insurance work is good "BUSY work", helps pay the bills, but that's not where I make my money.

I've been using Xactimate for 5 years now and like it. It's built for the insurance industry but they have price lists for remodelers too.

It used to cost $115 a month for two installs with additional installs for $75 each. Now it's $125 a month for one install and additional installs are $125 a month.

For pitched roofs it's great except for cedar shingle or cedar shake roofs and flat roofs. If you based your flat roofing off Xactimate you wouldn't last long in the business!

Also, For out of pocket non insurance jobs it's priced higher than the going rate.

Well I like the idea of "Mega". Go for it. We are happy with QB and a few excel files. If we continue our growth pattern we would entertain the thought of a custom software package.

No, and after reading the original question again, it doesn't even apply. CM is an accounting/project management software system, not estimating. I have built my own spreadsheets in excel for all estimating. I've looked at various estimating systems and have not been impressed with them.

But to answer your question Rocky, I guess it all depends on how you define "mega". My answer would be no, I don't do "mega" millions.

Back when I bought this system, they were a new company, small, DOS based accounting system, with modules, like Timberline, Peachtree and other accounting software system. My accountant was a Timberline dealer, but when I insisted he come with me to see CM at work in a live demo, on the way home he just looked at me and "Mike, you don't want what I have to sell. That's the sweetest, simplest accounting system I've ever seen."

Quickbooks has changed that industry. If I were looking for software today, I wouldn't give mine a second look. Quickbooks would be the choice. But it's a damn good system, that I bought for a 10th of what it sells for today, and I would be nuts to change. If I ever do get to the "Mega" point, at least I know my software can handle it. :)

Construction Manager, Mike, are you doing mega millions? That's fantastic. 50K for a program sounds ridiculous,but I guess if you're doing that kind of business and makes your life easier.

I use "The Contruction Manager", but I don't know if I can recommend it for you. I've used it for 14 years. The price has escallated so much since then that I think it's over $50k today. Crazy, but it's built for construction companies doing mega millions.

Quickbooks has some amazing features for a dirt cheap price.