Product category:
Estimating and Finance
News Release from: HBXL | Subject: Self builders cost plans better than builders
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 31 October 2007
Self builders cost plans better than
builders
HBXL survey shows more self builders correctly guessed the cost to build a house when presented with a set of drawings than professional builders.
The shock result of a survey carried out by HBXL, the building software specialist company, find out self builders' perceptions and knowledge on how to cost a set of building drawings is better The HBXL team asked self builders to estimate a job from a set of drawings, giving them a series of options in terms of cost - the result being 55% getting the answer right
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 22 Sep 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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The same question was presented to professional builders with 49% getting the answer correct.
Anthony Botibol, marketing manager at HBXL said: "It was quite a shock to learn that a higher percentage of self builders got the answer right than professional builders.
"Anyone involved with a self build project will be very conscious of making sure they stay within budget.
That's perhaps one reason why more correctly answered the question.
"Many may also look at numerous sets of plans before deciding on the dream design so appear to be better informed on how they interpret in terms of cost".
With self build budgets in most cases being tight Anthony believes that being able to cost plans accurately has significant implications for any project.
He added: "It's imperative that if presented with a set of pre-prepared plans, both builders and self builders can accurately estimate how much the job will cost.
Otherwise they and the self-build project could end up in serious financial trouble".
Fortunately, anyone wanting to produce estimates from a set of pre-prepared drawings will be able to utilise HBXL's latest product PlansXpress.
PlansXpress allows the user 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. Request a free brochure from HBXL ...
"PlansXpress gives the tools to allow quick interpretations of plans giving totally accurate estimates and costs.".
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