Best estimating software for builders’ merchants with free, no-obligation trials

Professional estimating software providers should always offer free trials especially when you are investing in the software infrastructure to offer an estimating service within your Builders’ Merchant business.

It’s absolutely worth spending the time to decide on which is the best estimating software for you and your team.

HBXL Building Software offers free 14-day trials for both EstimatorXpress and Take-off & Estimate Kit.

Why not take a software demonstration first?

Estimators within Builders’ Merchants pricing up and taking off residential projects such as extensions, loft conversions and new builds need to know the software’s capabilities. Even before you spend time having a play with a trial you can get a good grasp of what the estimating software tool can or cannot handle through a software demonstration, which will help you cut to the chase.

A free trial is a game changer when choosing the best estimating software

Once you’re ready to take a trial you’ll be raring to go with the software. Of course learning any software has a bit of a learning curve, trial or otherwise. So here at HBXL we offer offer support over the phone, web chat, email, and remote assistance evening during your trial and we absolutely encourage you to make the most of it! Even the most straightforward of software programmes need to be given a little bit of time to bed in. It’s a matter of familiarising yourself with something new but it shouldn’t take too long.

We recommend starting your trial using a simple project, such as a single storey extension. Both HBXL’s EstimatorXpress and the Take-off & Estimate Kit give guidance along the way - with text boxes offering advice and tips. You’re lead through the job step-by-step, phase-by-phase. The software does as much of the work as possible for you - it’s really only dimensions and material preferences that you need to provide.

A few one-off tasks to complete

The first real job you undertake requires a few of ‘first-time one-time’ processes. For example, with EstimatorXpress you can tweak specifications and then fix them as default settings for all your jobs going forward. Of course, you can change them again at any other time. The quotation and cover letter can also be customised by font and you can add your Builders’ Merchant logo so all outputs are on brand.

How much you tweak during your trial is up to you. Then main thing is to take it for a spin, and see whether it suits the kind of projects you undertake. Is it user-friendly? Is it up-to-date with latest building regs? Is the layout logical? Can you see the potential the programme offers you once you’ve become accustomed to it?

Give your trial time - it’s all a learning curve

The main thing is not to be put off by those inevitable teething troubles that every new user faces it. After a short few hours you’ll feel much more comfortable. Choosing estimating software that is specifically for UK residential building market is key - anything generic won’t go far enough and may require IT skills that certainly EstimatorXpress and the Take-off & Estimate Kit don’t demand.

EstimatorXpress, for instance, offers a large range of pre-loaded quote templates so estimating time is significantly reduced. Once you’re familiar with the software you can estimate a renovation in less than thirty minutes and a straightforward extension in under an hour. That’s a builders’ merchant estimating software programme that you’ll want to trial free!