Choosing Estimating Software

APRIL JLC 1999 Acontractor’s livelihood depends on the accuracy of cost estimates. Bid high and you’ll have no work; bid low and you’ll have plenty of work, but no money. It’s no wonder that every year, thousands of contractors trade hard-earned cash for estimating software, hoping to find that magic button they can push to spit out the perfect bid. Estimating software will help you estimate faster and more accurately, but there’s no magic involved. In fact, just the opposite is true. Software is not a substitute for careful estimating work habits and detailed knowledge about the project at hand. Nor will software simplify your life — at least not at first. Even the simplest software