New Basis for Addons HeavyBid Version 2015
There are four new basis calculations in the Summary>Addons in HeavyBid 2015. These are undocumented but fairly easy to follow. Background: There are two types of calculations in the basis of Addons. The first is the simple % calculation where a total is provided and…
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…
Why You Need a Test Estimate
What is a Test estimate? It is an estimate that you setup as one of your master estimates to create estimates in order to test HCSS routines and see how they work. I always admonish users not to treat HeavyBid as a Black Box where they…
Inflation and Current Pricing – A discussion
Have you been in a bid review where the comment is made that so and so bid item should be priced at no more than lets say for argument sake $110/cy? Here is the question that should be asked. When did this price actually come into effect?…
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…
Take Control of Your Desktop – Stardock Fences
Most of us (really like all of us) put files on our desktops and it quickly gets out of control as Microsoft does not provide a way to organize your files. Take control of your desktop and get an application called Fences by Stardock. It…
Master Estimates – How Many Do You Need? Part 2
You need multiple labor setups but multiple master estimates can be difficult to keep synchronized. A better solution is to create one master with the labor, equipment, crews and default settings and then copy in labor rates from a Labor Master for each estimate that…
Master Estimates – How Many Do You Need? Part 1.
HeavyBid allows as many Master estimates as you need but consider the downside of multiple master estimates. Each master estimate has to be maintained. For example if a equipment price changes in one master you have to copy it to all the other masters since…
UGM 2015 Class Notes
I taught three classes at UGM and my notes are detailed enough that you can glean some good information from them even if you were not at UGM this year. If you want the native powerpoint presentation just email me. These notes would be good…