Q. How long is the learning curve?
A. As the demonstration shows, BidBuilder
Estimating Software
is very easy to learn and
use. Most people pick it up and can operate BidBuilder very quickly
right out of the box. If you have ever used Excel, then your
learning curve is hours and not days. One client with no estimating
software experience coined BidBuilder to have a "weekend learning
curve." As always is the case, if you do have questions you can call
us, toll-free, and speak with contractors and estimators with
real world experience that will help you.
If you are familiar with Excel you will see that BidBuilder is very
familiar to you and you already essentially then know how it works.
Yet we go much further than any spreadsheet by providing databases
for you. And by setting up your items and assemblies for you, we
save you both time and money. We know you are busy in the field your
projects, let us help you by managing the technology for you.
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Q. I use Excel, why should I upgrade
to BidBuilder?
A. Many of our clients have seen or used Excel and they tell us that
on average they have doubled their speed from a spreadsheet, and at
the same time have much better accuracy, more control over their
operation and are winning more bids with more accurate estimates.
BidBuilder contains it's own databases (Residential and CSI) while
still being as easy to use as your current spreadsheet. Don't get
bogged down in maintaining an estimating software system yourself;
let the power of our software take care of your estimating and you
focus on what you do best and winning more projects!
Q. Do I start from scratch and have to
build or purchase databases?
A. No! BidBuilder already contains hundreds of popular items in its
database and is pre-organized for you. Included is a comprehensive
Residential database containing pre-created Items and Assemblies as
well as a database done in the standard CSI format. Both make it
easy and fast to find any item or assembly. Unlike other estimating
software products, you aren't required to build anything from
scratch nor do we force you to pay for items databases! With
BidBuilder you can add, delete or modify any existing item or
completely customize your own database.
Q. Can BidBuilder handle Assemblies?
A. Absolutely. We include 100 popular assemblies for you right out
of the box so you are productive immediately! You can easily and
quickly add, delete or modify any of these or customize your own. We
don’t force you to purchase these nor do you have to start from
scratch - you already have 100 pre-created and ready for use.
Q. Does BidBuilder handle shipping and
ordering of items based on the cycle of the project?
A. Yes. You have the ability to simply tag items into their
appropriate Work Break Down Structure. This enables you to quickly
identify everything by project phase, location, etc. for fast and
easy ordering, delivery, etc.
Q. Can BidBuilder price differently for different project
types, locations, etc.?
A. Yes. It is as simple as clicking one button and pricing is
automatically used for the location, project type, etc.
Q. Will BidBuilder force me to estimate
differently than I do now?
A. No. Unlike other software, the flexibility of BidBuilder enables
you to estimate by selecting your preferences on a few quick
settings vs. forcing you to learn new methodology and causing a
painful learning curve.
Q. Does BidBuilder provide presentation
quality reports?
A. Yes. BidBuilder does provide you with the ability to create
custom proposals. But we didn't stop there. BidBuilder has enabled
you to show exactly what work is being done - Visually - a
picture is worth 1,000 words, right? Eliminate confusion in the
clients mind and you win the job. BidBuilder lets you paste
drawings, manufacturers product graphics, etc. directly in the
proposal to eliminate confusion for the buyer and eliminate a
liability risk for you. That is going above and beyond what your
competition will do. And, you don't have to worry that your client
doesn't understand EXACTLY what they are getting. What do you get?
The project, a professional reputation and true peace of mind!
Q. Does BidBuilder work with my design
software?
A. BidBuilder contains direct links to most popular design software
- including SolidBuilder!
Q. Does BidBuilder work with my accounting
software?
A. Most Likely. BidBuilder comes ready with direct links to most
popular accounting products including QuickBooks.
Q. Does BidBuilder work with my project
management and job costing software?
A. Most Likely. BidBuilder comes ready with direct links to many
popular products including Primavera, Microsoft Project, etc.
Q. Will I still be able use automated
pricing from trade groups or other businesses I work with?
A. Yes. In fact, you can even identify which prices on a project may
still have to be honored on a bid and these will not be over
written. This button let’s you quickly and easily maintain the
integrity and margins of guaranteed bids.
Q. Should I purchase a digitizer to use
with BidBuilder?
A. BidBuilder works great with or without a digitizer. The reasons
that most clients elect to add a digitizer to their order is: 1.)
Speed. A digitizer enables you to estimate a plan even more
automatically by clicking on the drawing and automatically
calculating and entering quantities with no additional mouse clicks.
2.) Visual Assistance. While digitizing, BidBuilder draws a 3D
graphic of the design so you can see any areas you may have missed.
It also colors areas that have already been taken off; if it’s
colored it’s been counted so you won’t miss items on a bid any more.
Q. Does BidBuilder interface with any
digital takeoff programs?
A. Yes, in fact we have our own which is called Digital Takeoff.
Digital takeoff is one of only a couple of truly professional
products that you can get for under $1,000 - HALF the cost of a
Digitizer. BidBuilder enables you to take full advantage of Digital
Takeoff by snapping digital pictures or scanning in drawings or even
importing CAD drawings from other software, architects or designers.
This keeps your costs down, lets you respond to your prospective
customer very quickly, makes you appear more professional and
progressive and wins more projects!
Q. Should I purchase Digital Takeoff with
BidBuilder?
A. If you want to be completely automated, save space on your desk
top, spend less than a digitizer costs and visually check that your
estimate is complete and you did not miss anything then the answer
is yes. To see more information on Digital Takeoff and how it will
benefit you directly, click this link -
Digital
Takeoff.
Q. How accurate is BidBuilder?
A. BidBuilder is accurate to 10 decimal places, we think that this
is more accurate than you care to be, but, we want to be sure that
your profits are secured and surprises are eliminated! It is not
easy to find building intelligence in software that protects your
profits like BidBuilder will.
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