Improve Your Excel Skills
Estimators use Excel all the time but I am continuely amazed at the poor use of this tool. For example it is very easy to start a series of numbers and just highlight and click to have it continue to populate each cell. So if…
Export to Accounting in HeavyBid
The export to Accounting routine is a hidden gem in HeavyBid. The HeavyBid programming team has been working on the current export for over 10 years and what it can do for you is nothing short of amazing. This module is a testament that HCSS…
Save a Modified Crew Shortcut
When HCSS eliminated the need to go to the “Modify Crew” routine otherwise knows affectionately as the “Cat in the Hat” icon HeavyBid users visited the routine much less frequently. As they did so they either forgot and never noticed the “Copy to a New…
Crisis Looming in Construction
I am in a lot of offices (even with the pandemic). A good estimator will have all the little details of the construction process that insures their estimates are accurate. I remember at one of the first trainings this year sitting at Diamond Coring’s office…
Holding Account-Youtube Video
Holding accounts are handy especially if you are creative on how they are used. In a nutshell it is a bucket of costs that you can direct the spread. A good example would be the costs of setting up and operating a batch plant. A…
Quick Sub/Material Entry
I did this Youtube video long time ago for HCSS but it the routine has not changed. Routine is still useful especially when you have a lot of bid items with the same sub resource. LINK Also useful for pulling up a sub-resource that is…
Some V2020.2 Features
I was training some very sharp estimators this week and we were diving deep into HeavyBid and I noticed two new features in V2020.2 that you might find useful. I know the list of improvements is under the “What’s New” but until you actually see…
Total Shifts for an Estimate
In training of new users, I often get the question “where are my total shifts?” Now the question is framed where total shifts will be the duration of the project. If the project is small and there is only one crew on the project then…
Attached Documents
The subject of where do the attached documents reside was discussed among the HeavyBid trainers the other day. A preview of the attachments or links is not printed out with the cost report however if you want to see where they are located it is…
Optional Estimate Description Field
I have to be upfront on the field that everybody sees when they create an estimate but usually ignore it. The field I am referring to is the “optional description” as shown below. I too in training pretty much ignore the field but while the…
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.
