Combine this with quoting
for new jobs and even the most systematic, organised and assiduous of builder will
find their time management skills are tested to the full.
According to research published
in Professional Builder magazine, estimating is still regarded as being the
most time consuming part of a builder’s daily routine especially if the quotes
are quite complex and there are multiple requests to be getting on with. There
just doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day to get everything done!
For those fortunate enough
to be on the busy side, there is another way to get estimates for more complex
projects such as loft conversions and large residential projects completed
seamlessly and quickly, without compromising the day-to-day stuff that still
needs the builder’s full attention and comes in the form of the new HBXL Estimating Service.
The latest
innovation from the leading building software developer it will save builders
from having to take time out from their busy schedules to price up work and
produce quotations. It will enable them to get on with work in hand, win new
projects and manage the jobs they currently have on.
Joanna
Mulgrew, marketing director at HBXL said: “We all know that producing quotes
and estimates still takes
out the most time in any single day and to produce a totally accurate estimate
for more complicated projects can and does in some instances take up a whole
day – possibly more if the plans are particularly taxing such as an extension
combined with internal alterations. Producing quotes should be straightforward
but often takes longer than anticipated.
“The beauty of
this new service is that once the builder has sent us the plans of the project
they need a quote for they can focus on the jobs in hand knowing that within a
guaranteed time frame they will receive a fully itemised cost break down and
totally accurate customer quotation.
“The problem is that many builders don’t always have the time to price up
accurately the cost of a build so they either lose the job because of delays in
getting back to the client or don’t make the money they should have on the job
because it was priced up in a “quick and dirty” fashion.
“Sometimes it may take several days just to get prices back from
suppliers. This all takes time out from what they are good at, namely building.
“The HBXL Estimating Service is cheaper than asking someone in the office
to do it, not to mention the opportunity cost of losing out on work as you
haven’t been quick enough to quote or missing out on building time.”
To make use of
the service all builders have to do is send the plans to HBXL where expert
estimators will price it quickly and accurately. Prices range from just £79 for
a garage, £140 for an extension or loft conversion and £199 for a new build.
The builder
will receive a detailed estimate report pack outlining a summary of the project’s
cost, detailed cost breakdown for materials, plant and labour, cost breakdown
of each build phase, cash flow projection and a build program for when each
part of the project will take place.
Builders will
get a customer quote as a Word file, including mark-up, which can be easily
edited before it is shown to customers so the builder doesn’t even have to
write up the quotation.
Joanna added: “We
confirm delivery date of the estimate before we start on a quote, with small
jobs taking between three and four days and larger projects taking about seven
to ten days maximum.
“All the
builder needs to know is that we never miss a deadline!
“It’s a
fantastic solution for builders who want to present professional estimates but
are either too pushed for time to do it themselves or aren’t engaged with using
IT and computers.”
For details on the
HBXL Estimating Service please call T: 0845 1234 095 or visit the web site www.estimating-service.co.uk
