I’ve been running into this issue lately and figured I’d throw it out here to see what others are using.
Right now I mostly rely on Excel and a couple of random apps to put my numbers together, but honestly it just turns into a mess after a while. Sometimes the estimate looks solid on paper, but once the project is rolling the costs and schedule don’t really match up, and then I’m stuck trying to piece it all back together.
I’ve tried a few tools, one decent for estimating, another works better for project management but I haven’t found anything that really does both well. It feels like I’m constantly jumping back and forth between programs instead of actually focusing on the job.
I’ve been looking at some Construction Takeoff options too but not sure which ones are worth the time.
What’s everyone else using to keep their estimates and project data organized in one place? Any software you’d actually recommend for small-to-mid sized construction jobs?
I use ProCore or Buildertrend for project management because they integrate schedules, documents, and communication in one dashboard. For estimating and quantity surveying, PlanSwift and Bluebeam have been lifesavers especially for accurate construction takeoff tasks. Without a solid takeoff in place, you risk cost overruns before you even break ground.
If someone’s building an all-in-one setup, Stack and Sage Estimating are good candidates.