EstimateOne vs. RSMeans data, from Gordian (Costworks)

EstimateOne is well suited for subcontractors or builders alike to streamline the process of tendering on projects. It is a fantastic platform for anyone really, whether you are starting your business and need to build a client base or have an already established business and want to find more projects to tender on. It can be difficult at times to know where you stand after submitting a price, a strong follow up process or CRM is something you should consider before using the platform to keep track of key contacts and jobs you have priced.

Well Suited: Construction cost estimates for new larger projects where the construction will start within the next 6-9 months. Budgetary estimates for future buildings through its square foot models. Not Well Suited: Not accurate enough on small projects where labor, travel to sites, and OH&P are a higher percentage of unit costs than on larger projects where these costs are spread out across more units.

Incentivized

• Document access to projects on tender.
• Easy access to tenders and all commercial projects and their status.
• Good communication details with estimators.

• CostWorks is very good at generating quick and valid estimates for standardized facilities such as office buildings, schools, etc. It allows you to validate other cost estimates at the UniFormat level when doing an estimate validation.
• CostWorks' database of detailed line-items is a very resourceful asset when it comes to finding a very specific line-item. Sometimes, when using Success or MII, I will have CostWorks open on the other screen so I can find an item that the other softwares just don't have and build it into the other software from the CostWorks entry.
• CostWorks does a very good job of generating reports that are both well-developed and have enough detail at the summary level to be able to sit with a client or a project manager and have them follow along and understand without being overwhelmed with detail and numbers.

Incentivized

• 5 free passes for $10,000,000 opportunities as a further way for members to experience what they will receive in the next level up.
• Option to submit video testimonials.

• small project costs where labor is a bigger portion than materials on cost
• markup factors on governmental projects

Incentivized

EstimateOne is easy to use, the user interface is designed to be simple yet functional - many other platforms I have used are much more cumbersome to navigate and don't offer as much functionality. Everything has been thought out well with EstimateOne - it seems to have been designed by people who have worked in the industry.

Abby Tuong is an incredible employee who is EstimateOne. Her proactiveness, willingness to listen and help, and customer focus is second to none. With that level of support, it is no wonder EstimateOne has such rave reviews and is clearly the choice in the market.

I've never had the need to discuss CostWorks with a vendor.

Incentivized

I think EstimateOne may have a broader database (not sure); but certainly I feel it is very thorough in the searchability for suitable projects

CostWorks is a unique software for estimating as compared to the other softwares I have listed above. PACES is mostly used for federal modeling and really cannot be compared to Costworks. It has its own developed modeling database and has its own quirkiness and issues. MII has been developed for the USACE and utilized a user-developed folder structure and RS Means Database. I use CostWorks along side this software to find line-items that are not in the MII RS Means Database. Success has been developed for NAVFAC and again, utilizes a user-developed folder structure and RS Means Database. When I use this software, I ALWAYS have CostWorks open on the other screen as Success' RS Means database is extremely lacking when it comes to the number of detail line-items. Timberline is by SAGE and I use it mostly for DOS and FAA work. Of the 3 RS Means Database softwares, this one has the most detailed database for reference, however, there are times when I do have to look up an item that Timberline does not have and the first software I open is CostWorks.

Incentivized

• We are hoping for a positive impact and positive ROI since Covid-19 has effectively stopped our personal engagement opportunities with builders and architects

• I don't really see any "negative" impacts on my business or my ROI by purchasing CostWorks. It's a valuable tool that we use, however, some of my colleagues do not use it or use it very infrequently.
• I find it well worth the cost even though we don't develop complete estimates in CostWorks due to client dictated softwares.
• It has provided very quickly-built estimating models that let our team and project managers know that the RFP or the task that they are contemplating bidding on or starting to work on is actually feasible to construction given the budget and directive.

Incentivized