Estimaster2 Reviewer's Comments

Estimaster2 is a program well-suited to fit the needs of small construction and sub-contracting companies from all of the various trades. Many estimating programs lack the versatility of Estimaster2 and have not successfully spanned the spectrum of various trades like Estimaster2 has. With its various features and customization options, Estimaster2 ranks in the top ten among competitive estimating software products.

Feature Set:  

Estimaster offers convenient features which aid in the sometimes difficult estimate-creation. There are five function tabs located on the main screen that aid in the creation of the estimate. The available "how to" manual will lead you through each of these screens instructing you in how to set up each part of your estimate. The first step in the estimation process is defining the materials database, categories and sub-categories. This program permits you to enter great detail when defining categories. After the categories have been defined, the software enables you to add individual items related to each category. For each item, you can define the quantities for which calculations for unit, material, labor, subcontract and equipment costs are calculated.

At this point, the program allows you to enter job information and observe the estimate total. The next step is the actual building of the estimate. First, enter the estimate screen and quantify each item in the categories. You may then select each category that you desire to be included in the bid. One convenient feature of this program is that it allows the addition of items and categories at any point in the estimating process. This is a useful application for different types of projects. Once the estimate is built, this program hosts a builder's calculator which can compute quantities of specific items to be transferred to the estimate. When the estimate is completed, the program offers a choice of five report formats. These are pre-defined reports which can be selected to display your information.

Although Estimaster2 contains the basic estimating features, it lacks certain features found in leading competitive software packages. The reporting feature is limited in function and does not allow the creation of custom reports. The software also lacks job cost tracking capabilities and similar software interfacing applications. With the addition of a few more features, this software would be more competitive with leading software products.

Ease of Use:  

Estimaster2 received an excellent rating in the ease of use category. Although it is very basic in design, it is organized in a logical manner which is easy to follow. After consulting the "how to" manual and attempting some trial estimations, the program can be mastered by a novice. With each use of the program, the estimation process is quicker and simpler. After evaluating many complicated estimating programs, we were pleasantly surprised to find that Estimaster2 was relatively simple to operate. In addition to its straightforward format, Estimaster2 offers a "how to" manual to guide you through the process of setting up an estimate.

Ease of Installation:  

The installation of Estimaster2 was uncomplicated. We were able to install the software without any problems.

Help/Documentation:  

In the trial version of Estimaster2, we were unable to access the help contents. However, the "how to" manual was a constant guide to setting up an estimate. We were able to consult this manual to answer any questions we had.

Summary:  

Estimaster2 is a very basic construction estimating program. It offers various customization options and is simple to navigate. The program navigation is easier with each use of the software. This is important for the builder who doubles as a part-time estimator and will not have constant experience with the software. Although Estimaster2 lacks some of the convenient features found in top-of-the-line estimation software, it performs a straightforward, accurate estimation. The purchase price may be a little high for a basic estimation program but Estimaster2 easily meets the needs of small construction and sub-contracting companies.