January 27, 2017
Review: "Quotesoft Estimating software saving us time and money!"
We are using quotesoft for HVAC estimating and material takeoffs. Myself and our estimating team are doing full project quotes for plan spec and design build jobs with the software. It addresses the huge amount of time spent doing traditional material takeoff and quotes to prepare proper bids and estimates. We spend 95% of it in the sheet metal HVAC but it also allows for piping module for wet side and plumbing takeoff. It is saving mass amounts of time in the estimating process and allowing us to turn bids over more quickly and accurately.
- Once you're over the learning curve, it's fantastic at getting accurate material takeoff. Because one is working off the real PDF prints of the project, it's very easy to get a good material list and takeoff.
- Excellent for giving options of transitions and allowing the user to account for the actual 3rd dimension of the project by being able to click and add the sections needed to transition between floors.
- The speed in which the user is able to takeoff is so much faster than traditional methods, and more accurate and easier to use than the other options on the market. Prints out great reports showing materials and hours, and lets you color code the systems while estimating so you know you aren't duplicating efforts.
- Very flexible as far as how it adjusts for your desired estimate. You can identify per floor, side of the building, system, etc.
- Allows for fast on the fly adjustments of sizes, materials and types of transitions with ductwork.
- I'd prefer an 'all in one' as opposed to modules. I believe it's offered in that fashion but it was a touch more expensive. I was able to negotiate a footage takeoff tool for piping, to make it easier and more economical to our specific use, which is 95% dry side hvac estimating.
- Would be great if it could be preloaded with Smacna or MCA factors for labor, and also would be great if there was a faster way to update material costs. You do need to stay on top of your material factors and make adjustments per the price of steel and other consumables. The industry has been stable lately, but if for some reason you were lax in updating labor and material factors, you could be off on the estimate. That's true of ANY software or even standard old school estimating approach.
- It does require a dongle and a per seat license. The one drawback I don't care for, in a small company with tight cash flow, I do have estimators sharing the seat and scheduling takeoff around each other. Pretty standard though.