In many instances, the software lacks critical components–such as databases–that it needs to function, and contractors have had to hire full-time staff to develop databases so they could use the software! So once again, contractors purchase software because they can’t afford a full-time cost estimator but are then forced to hire a full-time staffer so they can use the software they’ve already spent thousands of budget dollars on. And that’s perhaps a price no company should ever have to pay. In fact, in some cases, the cost of the software is so exorbitant that some users claim it can actually inhibit a company’s growth. Moreover, contractors on subscription plans should be prepared for costs to increase prohibitively every year at renewal. It’s not surprising that many contractors complain they must resort to sharing licenses between users because having dedicated licenses is too cost-prohibitive. This quickly adds up when you have multiple users and/or are doing many takeoffs a year. However, at the high-end, a subscription can cost you $2000 per user annually or $1800 per download. But just how expensive is it? Well, a huge range of takeoff software exists from low to high-end as well as two dominant business models–subscription or pay-per-download–which can have a dramatic impact on the final cost. While proponents of construction takeoff software suggest that software can help your company compete in an increasingly competitive market and improve your margins, in reality, they fail to warn customers that construction takeoff software is not only expensive, but will also immediately increase your operating costs, lowering your margins. #2: Takeoff Software Is Expensive and It Could Take Years Before You Start Seeing ROI (if at all) What’s more, these missteps, even when caught before construction begins, can mean disaster for a contractor’s bottom line. In other cases, the software system is missing key types of materials needed to complete a takeoff.Įven a tiny miscalculation or oversight can mean hours of extra effort to fix the takeoff.
For example, the software simply makes errors when trying to calculate topsoil re-spread in earthworks measurements. In many situations, there is simply not enough detail in a construction drawing for the software to produce accurate results.īut in many other situations, the software simply hasn’t matured enough to handle the unique and comprehensive demands of specific trade work to be measured. While construction takeoff software fans swear it’s more accurate than developing a takeoff manually, they fail to see that it’s precisely the lack of human intervention that makes takeoff software prone to error. #1: Construction Takeoff Software Alone Is Inaccurate
In this post, we identify four reasons why you should ditch your construction takeoff software and provide a great alternative for developing accurate quantity takeoffs: cost estimating services. While many convincing sales reps and marketers are promoting the benefits of construction takeoff software, there is a multitude of reasons why you should hold off from purchasing it or swap out your software for other solutions. So you may want to press the pause button before you spend your budget on takeoff software or renew your subscription and here’s why. In short, you’re tired of wasting time and money by not having detailed and accurate takeoffs and, let’s face it, takeoff software looks like an easy and affordable way to eliminate headaches and increase your bottom line.īut you know what they say–if it looks too good to be true, it usually is. Now you’re losing money on a job you should be profiting from.
Either you simply don’t have enough budget to keep a cost estimator on staff or you’re tired of pulling all-nighters trying to create your own custom takeoffs only to discover later they’re inaccurate. Every site you visit on the web seems to be yet another pitch telling you to take the plunge and finally invest in takeoff software.
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