EstimatorXpress v Price A Job Comparison
There are many things to consider when choosing estimating software for your building firm. The best software for your business depends on the type of work you carry out and the features you’re looking for in the software.
What type of work do you undertake?
EstimatorXpress is tailored for small to medium size builders who specialise in work such as renovations, extensions and new builds – complete projects. EstimatorXpress uses intelligent whole project ‘quote templates’ to speed up your estimating. Choose a quote template such as an ‘Apex valley roof single storey extension’, type in the extension dimensions and then select your specification preferences. EstimatorXpress then estimates everything from the foundations through to the decoration virtually automatically - there’s no laborious inputting of calculations for each phase of the project. Rather than having to choose all the relevant phases, then enter in foundations lengths, then footing lengths, then wall areas (net of windows), the plastering areas, decorating areas etc. – EstimatorXpress includes each phase automatically and calculates everything for you.
If your work is limited to one trade, such as electrics, plumbing, landscaping or bricklaying, for example, Price a Job could be for you. Price a Job has individual calculators that you can pick and choose from.
How much automation are you looking for?
The unique feature of EstimatorXpress isn’t how many calculators the software has but the number of ready-made ‘quote templates’ provided. They make quoting fast, easy and 100% accurate.
For example, when costing a roof with EstimatorXpress, you don’t have to separately select the timbers, roof covering, soffits and fascias, rain water goods, ceilings and input dimensions for each element. EstimatorXpress takes the project dimensions (wall lengths, roof pitch etc.) and crunches the numbers to calculate the dimensions such as the length of the hip or valley, lengths of rafters, area of tiling, lengths of soffits and so on. If you’re looking for a high level of automation, EstimatorXpress does the heavy lifting for you.
For this reason, HBXL, creators of EstimatorXpress, claim you can complete a renovation estimate in half an hour or an extension in less than an hour.
Stand-out features of EstimatorXpress:
The interface is smart and easy to use.
Pre-loaded job templates do all the hard work estimating extensions, new builds, conservatories and renovations.
The construction costs, overheads and profit figures update live on screen as the job ‘builds’.
The clever dashboard shows you which estimates need completing or chasing up, which projects are starting soon, your win rate…
Price Tracker+ enables you to download up-to-date building material prices straight into your software. You can also download your trade discounts from key builders’ merchants.
EstimatorXpress vs Price a Job:
EstimatorXpress is not a cloud solution – it’s a desktop-based tool - meaning no downtime if you have broadband issues
There are subscription and outright purchase options for EstimatorXpress – you choose based on your budget
EstimatorXpress automatically produces Building Regulation Notes appropriate to your project
HBXL provides unlimited telephone and email support as part of their EstimatorXpress Support & Updates package
EstimatorXpress can be fully integrated with HBXL’s other construction software - PlansXpress, Health & Safety Xpert, ContractsXpert and ProjectXpert – helping you streamline your admin.
It’s important to ensure that the software you choose fits your business and needs. Spend some looking at reviews of the software before you purchase. For example, HBXL Building Software has numerous reviews on Trustpilot. Price a Job, in contrast, doesn’t currently have any Trustpilot reviews. Make sure you spend some time digging around the companies’ websites. Often you’ll find customer testimonials and news about any awards the products have won. All of this information should help inform your choice.