  |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
News
PaintCOST Estimator Version 5.0 updates reporting functions including a new Labor report. Cost data is updated for year 2007.
GeneralCOST Estimator Version 4.10 features new price quotation and five other reports in short and long forms. Also new bid scope report. Cost data is now separated for Material, Labor and Subcontract and also includes Labor manhours for easy scheduling. New Takeoff Calculator makes quantity calculations easy. Happy Estimating!
PaintCOST Estimator Version 4.0 updates reporting functions including a new Labor report which can be used to schedule the painting labor. Happy Estimating!
RepairCOST Estimator Version 2.6 improves reporting functionality. Happy Estimating!
GeneralCOST Estimator Version 2.4 features new price quotation reports in short and long forms. Additionally, all category pricing is updated for 2004. Happy Estimating!
Our PaintCOST Estimator Version 2.6 contains several new and improved features such as expanded data, separate material and labor, reporting enhancements, Markup application and more. As usual, Happy Estimating! CPR International, Inc. Issues Updates for Popular MS Excel Based Estimators. To Registered MS Excel Based Estimator Users: How: Download the trial edition, then enter your previously provided Authorization Code. This will automatically convert the download to registered functionality. The updated programs are:
Happy Estimating! Please continue to visit our website for future update notices. (Cont'd from Home) This may be due to absolutely mundane reasons such as missing drawings, details or specs. It could be due to a misinterpretation of the scope based on an ambiguous statement or comment. Or, it could be due to a more serious reason such as lack of experience in conceptualizing the work to be performed in the field.
2. Understand your resources and their cost to you – material suppliers, labor force, subcontractors, construction equipment, indirect costs, management. Easier said than done, this requires a thorough analysis of costs. A cost engineer may very well team up with the comptroller, accountant, field superintendent, project manager, purchasing manager. Even outside labor consultants may be hired to reach cost data to be incorporated in estimates. Remember, such data is not static, but changing in time and periodic review and update is a must.
3. Evaluate your strength and weakness and establish comparative advantage This is where the upper echelons of management should participate extensively. Typically, they have the background experience not just within the company but with other companies and industries vis-à-vis competition. Once the main parameters are established, the middle management in collaboration within departments may detail out the analysis and attach workable numbers. These, in turn, become the ammunition of choice for the estimating department so that they can come up with an estimate that is not only sufficiently low but also profitable for the company.
4. Determine appropriate Overhead and Profit rates In order to achieve optimal overhead and profit applications, item 3 above has to be completed so that risk factors are established and evaluated. Considering the general description of profit as being the return for taking a risk, it’s essential that it has to be a calculated risk. To arrive at these figures, not only the company cost structure and records must be thoroughly analyzed but also competition must be evaluated. In general, it is not recommended to trim bid figures from overhead and profit since they represent the long term viability of an ongoing business concern.
5. Use sound estimator’s judgment and keep an open mind and ear When preparing a bid level estimate, care must be taken to identify not only labor and material cost items shown on the plans, but also labor and cost items that may not be reflected on the plans. This is where good estimating and estimator’s judgment comes into play. It’s allright to consult a project manager, an engineer, a field superintendent and even a simple workman. A few new ideas here and a few there may mean understanding the project better and trimming estimating costs which may in turn mean a winning and profitable bid as opposed to a disappointing loss.
Happy Estimating!
Bridging the gap By Roger Stanley Qualified Remodeler One of the more fun things to do as an editor is to host a supplier-remodeler roundtable. The supplier expects to gain new insight from the remodelers, of course, but it’s always a surprise to watch the contractors learn from the supplier as well. QR is going to help do this on a grand scale on October 3-4 in conjunction with the NARI National Board meeting in Milwaukee. So far, two dozen leading industry suppliers have lined up to meet with hundreds of remodelers at NARI EXPO. Small groups of remodelers will rotate around to supplier roundtables to discuss their company products and services. It’s all about exchanging information and doing business. As simple as this sounds, it’s an attempt to bridge the huge gap between suppliers and remodelers. Many suppliers have told me they wish they could get their arms around this industry – there are too many remodeling companies. It’s far easier to target builders. But remodeling volume is so large that something has to change. I called NAHB a few weeks ago to get the official volume for 2002. The response was that remodeling grew another 10 percent in 2002 to $173 billion dollars. That’s a lot of potential sales to overlook, so suppliers are striving to communicate with remodelers, better understand the industry and partner with it. A service manager of a major window company summed up their remodeling business by explaining that when a distributor “gets it” regarding remodeling, then they would have strong sales in that area. If not, then there would be little or no remodeling sales. I’m starting to think many remodelers don’t “get it” when it comes to suppliers. True, supplier sales representatives rarely call on remodelers, if ever; and remodelers will claim to be architects to get three-ring product specification binders. But most live contact involves a problem. Remodelers can do more to bridge the gap between themselves and suppliers. There is too much at stake for business as usual. Suppliers provide industry support that no one else can. Suppliers can create new products and services just for remodelers – if they know what’s needed. And suppliers, remodelers and homeowners all meet at one common point – new and innovative products. We know new products are important to you. QR just received results from a major, nationwide survey of its readers. One question asked readers to rank the importance of the various editorial for your businesses. Not surprisingly, our product departments scored at the top of the scale. That fact surprised me the first time I saw it several years ago. Now, it only makes me feel comfortable with our commitment to provide the most extensive product news. By doing so we support both remodelers and suppliers, and that’s always been central to our mission.
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2008 CPR International, Inc. |
 |
CPR International, Inc. Issues
PaintCOST Estimator for Excel Version 5.0 update. Update includes new report and
enhanced reporting functionality in addition to data updates.