Revise the Equipment EOE Factors to Current Market Costs
If your estimate’s Equipment EOE cost is calculating on fuel usage per hour be sure to update fuel rates in your master and current estimates. Sometimes estimators start using this feature, but don’t change the default gallon price when HeavyBid was installed or update the…
Why setting up the workers comp option in HeavyBid is important
Where do you have the workers comp percentage? I find some companies put the workers comp percentage as part of the labor taxes in the labor setup. Not that this is incorrect, but they might not be aware of the cost ramifications to this setup….
Number of Shifts for Activities on the Classic Cost Report
Many estimators still utilize the Cost Report as a tool in the final bid review. It is especially useful in a Joint Venture review session where you need to write a lot of notes. There is just something about paper that a screen cannot duplicate….
HeavyBid Reference Card
This has not been updated for a while but still useful for new users. Covers lots of shortcuts that you can use in Heavybid. A one sheet (front and back – designed to be a laminated trifold) with HeavyBid information. Before HCSS went to a…
Running Windows (and HeavyBid) on a Mac
For as amazing as HeavyBid is you can’t run it on a Mac, which is a problem for some people. My son recently came across this problem when he started working for me and here is the solution as well as some advice before adding windows…
Priority of Setup Data for HeavyBid
When I train new customers they usually want me to prioritize the tasks of setting up HeavyBid. Usually at the training we are able to setup the Master Estimate which will include the Labor, Equipment and Crew setup. Here is my opinion of the priority…
Heavybid-Who is it for?
Occasionally I train a new customer who incorrectly assumes that HCSS provides cost data for estimating. Usually, in these cases, the company wants a relatively inexperienced estimator to be able to put together complex estimates for work their company has not historically performed. This misunderstanding…
Setting up same piece of equipment with weekly and monthly rates
The trend I am seeing is that contractors for outside equipment (not owned) want the option in an estimate to select either a weekly or monthly rate quickly. Problem is in the equipment setup you would have to input a new rental rate if you…
HCSS Support Options
This is new (at least new to me). It gives the HCSS customer a one page summary of all the options available to get help for any of HCSS products. Share this with your estimating team. LINK Help Summary
Activity Codes – Lessons Learned
Lately I have been working on codebooks for a number of companies. I have come to a couple of conclusions and offer these thoughts to those who are making an activity codebook or recoding your current one. Don’t include letters in the codebook – use only…
HeavyBid – Basics and Beyond is devoted to everything HCSS HeavyBid and estimating. Updated regularly with helpful insights and tools of the trade, this blog is designed to make your estimating easier and more successful.
