I’m looking for a good project or remodel estimator software. Do any of you use anything like this in figuring the cost of a possible project? When I get bids for a project I would like an idea of how the contractors are coming up with their associated costs. I’m hoping to find a reliable software program I can use for that.
library - RS Means ( i think that’s the spelling) - it has costs of materials. try and get the most current edition.
a pencil and pad, maybe a clipboard to attach the paper to and your car. drive to home depot, second-hand stores that sell used GOOD stuff cheap, and maybe Sears or something like that - the Depot or Leow’s are good because of their financing options.
i made a list on my comp and just went nuts listing items, from nails to sheet rock, to tiles, down to puddy. the list had over 50 items, some appliances, doors, electrical stuff, door knobs, paint, rugs.
for an 1200 sq ft SFH, i priced out a preferred rehab project at about $6500 bucks. preferred means no craziness! like windows, major electrical or plumbing and certainly no structural repairs. that $6500 covers alot too - a few “splurge” items as well, like an appliance, decent paint, and some nice molding, maybe even a nice Kohler sink (used but mint condition).
the software is only as good as your input.
If you are willing to spend a little money for software. I recommend hiring a freelance software engineer to make you a customized program. I’m not really sure exactly how mine works but I know it takes into account; costs of materials which are entered once a month after a long trip to Home Depot or Lowes, sqaure footage/ ceiling height of subject property, location of subject property, past work performed by contractors in the general location, etc. It took a lot of research and time to get the software almost accurate and takes daily updating to keep it that way. It’s always off by a few thousand dollars but one time it got within $100 of the actual costs.
the software is only as good as your input.
Agreed!
you could also use Excel.
come to think about it. you just gave me an idea for another spreadsheet to put on the web.
cool.
if you know how to use Microsoft Excel, you could easily bang out a spreadsheet to help you track all your inventory costs, per item/sq ft/or whatever it’s sold in.
Excel works if you just want to track what your spending or know what things cost. But that’s the old fashioned way. With my software, I select “Roof Replacement” X sq. ft. in 12345 zip code and it tells me about what it will cost. It’s most useful for evaluating a potential deal because it only takes a few minutes. There are a few things that can’t be programmed into the software such as structural problems, kitchens, landscaping, etc. I can’t totally replace people:(.
so you have software that is cost sensitive to the area of the country?
how does this software update?
This software is made from scratch by an engineer and is exclusively made up and adjusted daily by the numbers I put in. It’s cost sensitive to each county in the state (beach properties are different than mountain properties, city properties are different than farms). When I complete a project somewhere I will input what it cost me.
Example: Bob the Builder sends me a reasonable bill for a roof replacement in Baltimore that was 800 sq. ft. of roof surface. The total bill was for $8,500 including material. Because I would already know about what 800 sq. ft. of asphalt shingles cost from a recently visit to Home Depot, I would know that Bob is using $4,500 for labor and profit (Reasonable). Then when I am doing another rehab in Baltimore that needs a roof replacement, I type in the zip code, the surface sq. footage, and I know I should expect to pay about $9562.50 for a 900 sq ft roof, or $10.625 a square foot. Knowing about what the materials cost is important so that over time you don’t get gouged, especially after using the same contractor more and more.
Essentially it’s like an excel spreadsheet that adds itself up and uses the appropriate numbers to determine averages.