Free trials of builder estimating software

Downloading a free trial is one of the best ways of evaluating which construction estimating software is best for your business. All reputable software firms will offer free trials of their software.

You can get a free 14 day trial of HBXL’s EstimatorXpress without entering any credit card details. BuildingWorks by Integro Construction Software is also available on a 14 day free trial and you won’t need to provide any card details. This gives you full access to the software but no printing or exporting features. Alternatively, you can go for a 30 day multi-user, “fully featured” trial which has no-limitations. For this option, you’ll need to input your payment details. You are effectively starting a subscription to BuildingWorks which is free for the first month and can be cancelled at any time without charge within the first 30 days.

Start with a software demonstration

Depending on the type of work you undertake, you’ll be looking for specific features in the estimating software. Before downloading a trial, it’s a good idea to understand what type of work the software can handle.

If you’re a small to medium sized building company based in the UK, chances are you’ll need software designed for projects such as extensions, garage conversions, loft conversions and perhaps new builds. If you’re a developer, estimating new homes will be your focus. If you’re a tradesman, you don’t necessarily need an all-singing all-dancing estimating solution but one tailored to your particular trade. If you’re an estimator or QS, you may require software which can offer practical BIM and a full Bill of Quantities.

You can evaluate whether a software product has the features you require before getting to the trial stage, potentially save yourself lots of time. Look out for software firms which offer personal, online demonstrations of their software.

Onto the trial stage

When trialling the software, it’s a good idea to start by estimating a straightforward project. For example, a basic single storey extension would be the perfect starting point. Software such as BuildingWorks and EstimatorXpress will guide you through the process step-by-step, with onscreen diagrams and pop-up tips and advice. The software does lots of the work for you, so you’ll just need to type in some dimensions and make some specification choices.

It goes without saying that learning new software can be a steep learning curve. Lean on the support offered by the software company – they’ll be keen to help you get up to speed. The best software companies will offer telephone support, online chat and email support.

See the full capabilities of the software

When you first use the software, you’ll need to spend some time doing some one-off tasks such as editing the labour rates and reviewing the material prices. You’ll also want to think about setting your own inflation rates to take into account rising construction costs. With EstimatorXpress and BuildingWorks, you can tailor the specifications and save them with your default settings for all future jobs. You can also customise your customer quote by tweaking the wording in the cover letter and inserting your company logo.

How much time you spend doing these tasks during the trial is up to you. The most important thing is that you test drive the software to see whether it’s suitable for the type of work you undertake. How easy to use is the software? Does it have an extensive materials catalogue? Are the prices current? Is the quote laid out logically? Can you see what the software can offer you once you’re fully up to speed?

Invest some time

Don’t be deterred if you come across the odd hurdle along the way – it inevitably happens to every new user. Invest a few hours in the software and you’ll start to feel more confident navigating your way around. If you’ve chosen the right software for your building business, you shouldn’t need extensive IT skills. Packages such as EstimatorXpress and BuildingWorks certainly don’t require it.

For example, EstimatorXpress comes loaded with a range of quote templates for different job types, which contain all the relevant materials, labour and plant calculations. This significantly reduces the time you spend estimating. Once you’ve learnt how to use the software, you’ll be able to renovate a simple extension in under an hour. Check out the links below to access some free trials of building estimation software.