Estimate Master Reviewer's Comments

Estimate Master is an excellent estimating program which is relatively simple both to install and navigate. From its database which stores all of your project details, to its ability to create assemblies, Estimate Master hosts many convenient features. This product is an excellent selection for general contractors and trade-subcontractors.

Feature Set:  

Estimate Master has a multitude of features to aid in the complicated estimation process. It contains a built-in database allowing you to store details on materials, parts, labor work units, estimates and bid information. This information is automatically saved each time you move to a different screen. This is a bonus for those who often forget to save their work. Once your database is built, you can easily access the previously-saved information for future estimates.

Another unique feature offered by Estimate Master is the ability to create work orders. A work order differs from an estimate in that it breaks the estimate down into individual sections for easy distribution to workers and subcontractors. With its built-in backup and restoration utility, Estimate Master protects against data loss and synchronizes multiple databases, allowing multiple people to use the program on separate computers. The Smart restore utility grants direct access to your company's Estimate Master database by backing up each copy of the database and restoring/updating the information to other computers.

Some other handy features available with this software package include the ability to create assemblies and the power to make duplicate "cloned" estimates. This application allows you to create a new estimate, with similar specifications as a previous estimate, by quickly changing the estimate names and items to quickly figure the new estimate.

Estimate Master's reporting capabilities are limited to one bid document. This document contains the final costs and may display markups, taxes, shipping and other costs. The bid document can be customized by incorporating the company logo and defining the bid body text.

Ease of Use:  

This program is relatively simple to navigate for the average estimator. By following the detailed step-by-step instructions found in the "help" section, you can reduce future difficulties. There is a "getting started" segment of the help document that is useful when beginning the process. It is important to be as detailed and organized as possible when setting up your item cost book. Make sure you set the code for each item to connect it to a specific category. Give detailed descriptions of each item for easy-identification and then click on them to add them to any estimate. Begin by creating a small test estimate, incorporating each of the program features into this estimate. This will accelerate your learning of the Estimate Master program. With prior experience with the program, your difficulties and time-expenditure are drastically reduced.

Ease of Installation:  

Estimate master is simple to install. There were no problems encountered throughout the procedure.

Help/Documentation:  

Estimate Master houses the most supportive help section we have ever come across in a software program. Each screen hosts a help icon which gives detailed step-by-step instructions of each aspect found in that particular screen. The help section is context-sensitive and offers an excellent "getting started" segment to aid in beginning the navigation process. This time-saving help documentation was immensely helpful in running the software and answering questions.

Summary:  

Estimate Master is a well-designed basic estimating program. With its array of features, its simple navigation and installation process, and its excellent help documentation, this software would be an excellent choice for general contractors as well as trade-subcontractors.