Review

Reviewer's Comments

CBD Estimating software is a pre-programmed spreadsheet for Microsoft Excel. With prior experience with Excel, this program is a snap to run. With the program’s variety of features, its ease in navigation and installation and its excellent help documentation, this product ranks among our top ten estimating software products.


Feature set:  
Predefined categories and line items are installed in the program to get you started as quickly as possible. The word “other” appears in blue type throughout the program. This represents an open cell for special entries and pricing. These entries are then used in the final calculations of the project. The program also delivers pre-defined formulas which automatically calculate lumber, roofs, sheetrock, foundations, stucco, brick, countertops and many other items with minimal input.

There are navigational tabs at the bottom of each screen which direct you in completing numbering of cost codes, printing schedules and analyses, tracking all costs, and printing costs to complete and summary analyses.


Ease of use:  
With prior experience in Microsoft Excel, this program is simple to navigate. Without this experience, the program is straightforward enough to be mastered by the novice in a few short hours of practice with a previously-defined estimate. After this experience, a novice could begin tackling a new estimate. Although CBD lacks the “bells and whistles” found in many estimating software programs, it is a well-functioning program with all the basic capabilities you need to formulate an estimate.


Ease of installation & setup:  
The installation process was simple. We encountered no problems throughout the process.


Help/Documentation:  
CBD’s support segment is very informative and useful. The program offers a getting-started tab which can be clicked on to aid in beginning the estimating process. Throughout the program, there are certain cells displaying red triangles. These triangles can be accessed to display comments clarifying the cell.


Summary:
CBD construction estimating software is designed to be easy to use and quick to learn, however, the software is lacking in unique personality, flexibility, customization and features found in other from the ground floor designed programs. With familiarity of Microsoft Excel, this program is a breeze to navigate. However, with knowledge of Excel, you could write your own program and save a few hundred dollars. With the reasonable cost of this program, though, it may be worth the money to avoid the time and effort involved in creating your own program. CBD is a functional program designed for small Residential General Contractors.

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