Do your estimators need more training? A Simple Test.
What are some indications that you or estimators you work with need formal HCSS training? I use one indicator to test the depth of the user’s HCSS knowledge. If the estimator does not know about this feature then I know there are many more gaps in their…
What If Scenario- Activity Costs
An estimator might want to compare different activity production costs but doesn’t want to change the estimate. HeavyBid has a “what if” routine that performs this task. First be in the activity you want to do a “what if” and go to the third icon…
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 on the Enterprise Option
The Enterprise Version of HeavyBid allows a company to setup multiple business units. For example a construction company has two divisions, one heavy civil and one a general contractor. Both divisions could share one HeavyBid installation but the system wide files will also have to…
A Simple Tree View Keyboard Shortcut – F6 Key
Keyboard shortcuts will make you more productive in HeavyBid. Here is a simple easy to remember shortcut for Tree View. In Version 2015 the feature was added where the “F6” key will cycle through the major fields. For example if I want to go from…
Crew Costs Per Hour
If you want to see what hours crew costs are there is a simple report to print that is useful in estimate analysis. Go to Reports>Estimate Resource Reports>Crew Costs. There is an option to see only the crews in your estimate and also to include…
Closing Accounts – Caution
There was a fundamental change to the closing account routine that those who use them should be aware of. I am not sure what version this programming revision came about but in the current version of HeavyBid when a summary is run and there are…
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…
Renumber Bid Item in Tree View
I found another undocumented feature in HeavyBid 2015. In Tree View you can right click on a bid item on the View side of the screen and renumber a bid item on the fly. Nice for when you are for example creating child items and…
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….
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.
