Product category:
Estimating and Finance
News Release from: HBXL
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 23 October 2007
Costing plans too difficult for most
builders
HBXL survey shows less than 50% of professional builders correctly guessed the cost to build a house when presented with a set of professional drawings.
That's the shock result of a survey carried out by HBXL, the building software specialist company, which carried out the survey to find out builder's perceptions and knowledge on how to cost a set of building drawings The HBXL team asked builders to price a job from a set of drawings, giving them a series of options in terms of cost - the result being 49% getting the answer right
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 29 Jun 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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Worryingly 51% either got it wrong completely or didn't attempt to give an answer.
Anthony Botibol, marketing manager at HBXL said: "What this demonstrates is that many builders can't deduce how much a project will cost based on a set of drawings or aren't comfortable with interpreting those drawings.
"It was quite a shock to learn that the majority got it wrong or didn't attempt to give an answer".
With builders' profit margins being tight enough as it is Anthony believes being able to cost plans accurately has significant implications for any building business.
He added: "If for example a client presents a builder with pre-prepared plans, it's imperative that builder can accurately estimate how much the job will cost.
Otherwise they'll be in serious financial trouble".
Fortunately, builders wanting to produce estimates from a set of pre-prepared drawings will be able to utilise HBXL's latest product PlansXpress.
PlansXpress allows the builder to either scan in the drawings or import a CAD file and then trace over them onscreen.
Then, with one click of the mouse the building drawings can be priced up in HBXL's award winning estimating software EstimatorXpress.
Anthony added: "The link between PlansXpress and EstimatorXpress is one of the most exciting features of the new software as it merges the design and costing processes into one.
"Our research indicates that it's not that builders don't understand what the drawings mean but more about interpreting them into an accurate cost.
"PlansXpress gives builders the tools to allow them to quickly interpret plans giving them totally accurate estimates and costs".
Builders wanting to see PlansXpress in action should visit the forthcoming Homebuilding Show on 24 / 25 November at Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet or the Toolfair Exhibition, Sandown Park, Esher on 4 /5 December. Request free introductory details about products from HBXL ...
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