Checklists in HeavyBid
There is a checklist function in HeavyBid. You can add categories and checklist items inside HeavyBid but it is easier to plan out the checklists in Excel. Click on this LINK (and then upper right of screen click on arrow) to download my starter checklist spreadsheet that you…
Documents for Training
These are three documents that anyone can benefit from but mainly intended for companies that I am going to train. The link is for the following documents. 1. HeavyBid 101 booklet – good reference especially if you just want to go through a simple estimate….
Equipment Setup – Fuel Usage Component
For contractors setting a price for estimating purposes for equipment is a daunting process at best. With the price of diesel dropping in the last few months consider if you have not done so developing your EOE based on a fuel usage per hour. Then…
Accounting Software – Visual ContrAcct
I am not endorsing this but I did a training in Chicago and the contractor recommended this accounting software. They said the support was excellent which is something of a rarity among accounting software companies. Quickbooks is great for a startup but it has a…
Quote Folder Adjustments and Bid Quantity/Takeoff Quantity Differences
This is an advanced topic but one that estimators doing large at risk estimates should be aware of especially if there are significant bid quantity/takeoff quantity differences. First there is a setting in Tools>Preferences where you can set if bid quantities are desired to come…
Quick Parent Child Relationship
If you setup Biditem Parent-Child relationships you should try the “Quick Parent-Child Relationship Setup”. It brings up a dialog box where you can simply drag and drop child items into Parent Biditems without even setting the biditem as a Parent (dragging it to a biditem…
Computer Hardware Options – Small Form Factor
A year ago I built my own computer using good components that are difficult to get in the typical preassembled computers. This computer has a solid state drive and is much faster than just about any laptop out there. I wanted a unit that I…
Estimating Reference Resource
I came across this estimating manual when doing a Google search. While it applies specifically to building estimating (CSI Masterformat) it has a lot of good general information that pertains to any type of estimate. I find some users of HeavyBid have not received any formal…
Delete Multiple Resources in Crews and Tree View
Sometimes I forget about useful shortcuts in HeavyBid. Yesterday in a training for a company already using HeavyBid one estimator reminded the group that you can right click in Modify Crew Screen and then click the boxes of the labor/equipment to quickly delete multiple resources….
HeavyBid Internal Spreadsheet
If I was asked what feature of HeavyBid is under utilized by users the answer would be easy. It is the internal spreadsheet found in SETUP>SPREADSHEETS (located on the System side). This spreadsheet program is Excel like but is very efficient and can be linked…