Business Publications

Estimating and bidding software: these programs speed up the process, improve accuracy, and increase profitability

Masonry Construction, Sept, 2003 by Ron Holzhauer

But with necessity as a driving force, the mason quickly realized the potential of using this approach and bought a computer. He was one of the few contractors in the area looking at the possibilities of the automated estimating system.

However, a major roadblock was quickly encountered. The then available general contractor software packages "missed the boat for masonry," he remembered. Pacetti tried to "make do" with what was available, but a serious--and costly--estimating mistake on a job prompted him to move into a different direction.

"I decided to develop my own masonry software that went beyond the existing spreadsheet approach. And who can design software for a masonry business better than a mason?" he reasoned.

But it wasn't that simple.

Road to success

Although Pacetti knew masonry after 25 years in the industry, he didn't have a clue about programming software to do estimating and bidding. The contractor eventually made connections with Mark Goldberg, a programmer still with the company.

"I spent a week drawing and describing the intimate details in all aspects of masonry contracting and what I wanted the program to do and show," said Pacetti. "The programmer's reply was simple: 'Can't be done.' The calculating part of the job was no problem, but the graphic capabilities I envisioned did not exist at that time," continued Pacetti.

With this limitation, the masonry bidding and estimating program was developed for use by Pacetti Brothers. At this point, the programmer made another suggestion: Sell it to other mason contractors.

Pacetti was not wild about the idea, but decided to give it a try by selling to contractors outside his work area. A contractor in Beloit, Wis., asked for a demonstration, bought the product, and Tradesmen's Masonry Software was born in 1993. Soon thereafter, the potential for the product with the mason contractor hit Pacetti hard and he decided to shut down his contracting business and go into the software business full time. Now, 10-years later, his early vision to show the actual take-off is available with the Tradesmen's 3D Estimator.

The ironic part of the story is that Pacetti Brothers never actually used the masonry estimating program. Bill Pacetti realized the potential for the product he had developed and traded in his trowel for a computer. About 1000 satisfied purchasers of the program are very happy he made the switch.

Masonry Estimating

Software Companies

Avontus Software Corp.

800-848-1860

www.avontus.com

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Calculated Industries Inc.

800-854-8075

www.calculated.com

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Heavy Construction Systems Specialists

713-270-4000