New HCSS HeavyBid Website
HCSS is introducing a new way to get online help for HeavyBid. This is not live help but sometimes you want something in print or a find a way to formulate your question before you call Tech Support. This site is for all HCSS products…
Updating Your Master Estimate
Typically companies new to HeavyBid as they are working on estimates find that they have missed setting up certain labor, equipment or crew. During the estimating effort you will most likely add these resources (or revise resource costs) to the current estimate. At the end…
Recommended Optional Settings – Quote Folders
There are two optional settings that every estimator should activate. The first one shows the quantity for each material or sub in the grid (and not just on the bottom of the screen). This does not take a lot of screen room and most users…
Listing of Local Materials/Subs not in System Wide Materials Codebook
Are you inputting the same materials on the fly for every estimate? To increase your efficiency do the following. When your estimate has been completed get a list of the created materials/subs and move them into the system wide codebook. Two ways to do this….
Location HeavyBid Videos – V2015
You will notice that all the help video links inside HeavyBid has disappeared in Version 2015. I think this is in anticipation of moving towards a web linked help system that in the future you will have the option to see applicable YouTube videos. It…
Updating the Master Estimate with Data from a Recent Estimate
This blog is intended new users. Typically a company that has recently implemented HeavyBid finds that there is missing setup data in the Master as they work on their first initial estimates. So the missing data (like labor and equipment codes) are added to the…
Equipment Mechanic Hours
How can you calculate a total number of mechanic hours in HeavyBid? The EOE has to be setup with the “Calculate” setting (not hourly) so along with the mechanic hours the fuel use and other EOE costs will be inputted. I see companies set this…
Modify Bid Pricing Indicators-Bid Price Screen
In the lower right hand corner of the Bid Price Screen are the Indicators. Many companies don’t use Takeoff/Bid quantities differences so they don’t need Markup and Profit shown for both. Also to most users “Markup% on Sales” description is at best confusing. This would…
Naming a Master Estimate – Best Practice
I have found estimators using the “ESTMAST” as their company’s master estimate. True its name is “Blank Master Estimate” but best practice is not to use this estimate for your company’s master estimate. Two reasons. First you might want “blank out” a setup like labor and you…
Library Estimate Limitations with Spreadsheets
I really encourage estimators to use the internal spreadsheet in HeavyBid. This feature has improved over the last four years and can increase an estimator’s productivity and accuracy. A Library estimate is one option where the estimator just copies over to their current estimate particular bid…
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.
