I had a blog a while back on best practices for coding estimates but this blog is on actually coding Master Estimates. When I am setting up a new company I always recommend not using the “ESTMAST” estimate as the default Master estimate for the following reasons:

  • You always want to have a blank estimate to create an estimate to try out new coding or to do some in depth investigation of how HCSS is calculating a value. Create an estimate from a completely blank estimate and your task can be easier.
  • Best Practice of naming a Master estimate is a code that designates a year. When the need for updating labor and equipment rates is required then copy the current years Master and then update rates. Then the estimator has the option of two masters to copy from depending on the timing of the project.
  • In the HeavyBid Utility directory there is a backup of ESTMAST which is blank. There is a chance (small one but why risk it?) that a user accidentally restores this over the ESTMAST. Not good.

Yes there is the inconvenience of setting each estimator’s default estimate to the new estimate when the Master is updated to another year but the default settings should be checked yearly anyway.