Estimating Methods
Estimating Using Production Rates.
Using Production Rates
Read below to learn more about Production Rates
As you know this method means when you are at the customers house, you are measuring everything with either a tape or a electronic measuring device. The electronic tape's are pretty cool as you just have to point and press a button. Anyway, what you are trying to do is get the surface area, length or the quantity of the areas or items you are about to estimate on. This program comes with a few examples but it does not have a huge list like some other programs. The reason why is everybody has different rates and I don't even want to guess what yours are. I'm sure you have seen online or someone at the paint store has asked what your rates are for stuff "Example: What is your sq-ft price for new construction?", when this is really a bad question as what they should be asking is how much can you get done in a specific time frame. For example how long does it take you to roll 100 sq-ft of textured walls instead of how much do you charge for 100 sq-ft of textured walls.
Unique The Paint Estimator comes with what I believe is pretty special feature and that's the Rate Recorder. The way this works is lets say you have a job where one of the things you have to do is prime 200 feet of 2x8 fascia board. All you have to do prior to starting, is to jot down the time and start priming. Once you are done, take a note of the time and how much primer you have used. Now when you get home just simply start the program and get to the add rate form and follow the steps. Click get my rate and there you have it. Your rate for priming 2x8 fascia board.
The neat thing about the rate recorder is it counts dead time, setup time, and bathroom breaks. You might find that you won't be able to do this on every job, but after awhile if you keep recording stuff you will have a real nice list of production rates for your company.
So lets say you recorded some rates and now are ready to use them on a new estimate that you are working on. The way you would use production rates with this program is when you start a new estimate, just simply click on the production rates button
Live The production rates method will look something like this.
For the most part, using production rates for this program is self explanatory. The level drop down box increases the price by 10% per point. You can round the gallons up to the nearest gallon, quart or the exact decimal. Also when you click on the gear icon in the "Number of Coats" box, you can modify the time and materials by the number of coats you are using. Typically for me when I'm putting on the second coat it usually only takes about 2/3 of the materials and about the same in labor. A little less as each coat gets put on.
You can also use the area calculators for both interior and exterior areas, just simply click on the calculator button when you are in the production rates mode. This will bring up a new form where you can enter the dimensions of the area you are working on, and the calculator will get all the materials, time needed to perform all the tasks needed.
Exterior Calculator
Interior Calculator
