Has anyone used ConEst Estimating Software - Electrician Talk - Professional Electrical Contractors Forum

jabix · 06-02-2008, 08:33 AM

Has anyone used ConEst Estimating Software, we are looking into upgrading from Vision to ConEst. The Vision software is nice but is kind of cookie cutter because the base software is set up to do both electrical and plumbing. ConEst on the other hand is made specifically for electrical and even includes NEC Tables in the programing. Any ways just wondering what someone else thinks of this program. I would also be interested in hearing some feed back on the new sure count system from ConEst that will count symbols and fixtures form electronic files such as PDF. or TIFF files. Just got a demo on the program and it looks like it could save me a bunch of estimating time.

eds construction · 06-02-2008, 01:39 PM

We use conest. I like it because of the ability to get instant pricing from our suppliers. It can do alot of stuff and gets overwhelming sometimes. It took me about 30 days to learn how to use the program.

jabix · 06-02-2008, 01:44 PM

Net Pricer is a nice function, but I can use that with my curretn software. Have you used any other software that you could rate ConEst against.

eds construction · 06-02-2008, 01:52 PM

We used to use Vision Infosoft. Conest is more toward the commertial where as infosoft had a large residential database. I like the conest

jabix · 06-02-2008, 02:02 PM

I would have to agree, I have been researching ConEst for about a month and even had a sales guy come to our shop and give a presentation. If you have not seen their new software you should check it out, although you would have to call them and set up a little time to demo it with them over the internet. It is called Sure Count and you can use a PDF, TIFF, DWG, ETC files of prints and this program will scan the pages after you tell it what to look for and will automatically count the fixtures or devices and transfer them to count sheets which you can then assign assemblies to each of those fixtures or devices. We are looking into getting this software.

jabix · 06-02-2008, 02:05 PM

Right now the software is not totally complete and is in Beta testing, but if you get in on the ground level you can get it for 2,000.00 and they will upgrade it for free as they change the program. they are projecting that if you wait until the program is complete it is going to sell for around 4,500.00

eds construction · 06-02-2008, 02:05 PM

Thanks, I will check into it. Good luck

Wamegojim · 06-03-2008, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jabix

Net Pricer is a nice function, but I can use that with my curretn software. Have you used any other software that you could rate ConEst against.

I am currently using Accubid. But, I would love to be able to switch to ConEst. I used to use it in the past at other companies I have been at. It is definitely the superior program. I have also used Estimation for a short period. I can't believe anyone buys their stuff.

jabix · 06-03-2008, 03:04 PM

Right on, like I said earlier, I have researched for about a month and even checked out accubid, they are a lot more picey than ConEst and their program cannot do some of the nice things that ConEst can, like with the price of copper right now it's nice to be able to click a button and chnage from THHN Copper to XHHW AL and have the program automatically change the pipe fittings straps etc. to meet the code requirements

jabix · 06-03-2008, 03:05 PM

And that's just the begining I could go on forever about the advantages.

sparky54 · 06-23-2008, 03:32 PM

Here’s my experience over the last 25 years of trying them out, I have personally used Conest, Estimation (who sold out to Maxwell), Mccormick and Vision. In my experience and dozens of estimators I’ve compared notes with - nothing compares to the intuition and flexibility of Accubid.

As far as the automatic symbol-recognition when I tried it I find it too risky. I know others who tried Surecount and told me it only works for very small projects (I dont have any of these) because the accuracy is barely good enough for budget counts -- this is also consistent with products like On Screen Takeoff who is not just another flash in the pan... I’ve actually seen companies like surecount come and go before. On Screen Takeoff tells their users to realistically expect about 80% accuracy from their symbol-recognition tool. That I can believe… but I don’t need 80% accuracy budgets, I need 100% accurate estimates that I can buy from and build from. If it was 95% I might be interested in preliminary budgets but I dont know how 80% flies for anybody.

jabix · 06-23-2008, 04:15 PM

I would have to agree that Accubid is a great program but they do not have the NEC code tables programmed into their software so I canpt just press a button and change from copper to aluminum conductors and have the wire pipe, fittings, etc. change automatically to the correct sizes like I can do with ConEst.

BDB · 07-09-2008, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jabix

Right now the software is not totally complete and is in Beta testing, but if you get in on the ground level you can get it for 2,000.00 and they will upgrade it for free as they change the program. they are projecting that if you wait until the program is complete it is going to sell for around 4,500.00

Ok, 1st time here at the Electrician talk forum, so bare with me if I do not do things the right way. I am looking at getting ConEst system and doing a search I found this place. I noticed on the above post you stated that you could get the program for $2000.00? Is this for the LITE version? I have a quote for the LITE version for $2295.00 and the PLUS version for $3795.00. And nothing was said about a free upgrade. Was this before they had the four diffrent versions? I am looking at getting the PLUS version and I was thinking about getting the add on for the Sure Count, but from what I am reading here it doesnt sound like it is to trust worthy. Any help or insight on ConEst to help me make my mind up would be great.

jabix · 07-09-2008, 03:41 PM

The 2000.00 price is just for the sure count system, the ConEst Intellibid systems run about 2295.00 lite, 3795.00 plus, 4995.00 pro, 5995.00 design build. If you have any questions at all get in contact with Paul Liccardi at 866-709-0766 he is really knowlegable and is actually a representative that I purchased my system from.

jabix · 07-09-2008, 03:47 PM

ConEst Intellibid is a great program it is very reliable and has been around for quite a while. The sure count system is new and in beta testing but works great and any upgrades that they may do will be free since your getting in on the ground floor.

BDB · 07-09-2008, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jabix

The 2000.00 price is just for the sure count system, the ConEst Intellibid systems run about 2295.00 lite, 3795.00 plus, 4995.00 pro, 5995.00 design build. If you have any questions at all get in contact with Paul Liccardi at 866-709-0766 he is really knowlegable and is actually a representative that I purchased my system from.

How long have you had your system? How long after getting it did you feel comfortable enough with it to trust bidding a job? Any regrets? and finally (for now any ways) which level did you buy?

jabix · 07-10-2008, 07:27 AM

I am with a new company, they have only had it for about 3 months, but I have used it for the past 3 years. I think that out of all the systems that I have tried out this is the easiest to learn. I spent three months researching and trying out software programs when my current boss decided that the vision infosoft that we have is not working for what we want the system to do. I have no regrets about this product. We had to purchase the pro systems so that we could network them and have two estimators working on on one project. If you only have one estimator I would recommend the plus system. The nice thing is you can always upgrade to the next level of software and just pay the difference in price later on. So you could buy the plus system and upgrade later to the pro and just pay the difference between the two programs. Just remember that if you buy the plus and want to get the sure count system you have to have the count sheet link and the sure count link which you would have to add to the plus program which would cost around $600.00. If you don't mind counting the symbols on the prints yourself start out with just the plus system and add the sure count later. One warning with that option is that when the sure count software is complete it is probably going to cost about 4000.00 instead of the 2000.00 that you can get it for now.

BDB · 07-10-2008, 10:27 AM

jabix,
Thank you for your opinion on ConEst, very informative. That is a pretty high price for the sure count, it would be more then the system itself

jabix · 07-10-2008, 10:47 AM

Only if you wait too long to purchase it, anyways it wold be worht it to save all that time not having to count the devices, fixtures, etc. and then having it automatically import the information into the Intellibid program is nice too. Putting everything into the count sheets on intellibid so all you have to do is just assign an assembly to it and it will populate a whole list of materials. Anyways, call Paul if you have any questions he is a great guy and very helpful, he not only sells the system he also has is own estimating company and uses it to estimate jobs for a living. So, he is very knowledgable.

macdaddy · 05-29-2009, 10:16 AM

For what its worth, Our Company has Accubid, ConEst and Vision.
We have 14 estimator/ PM's and the general consensus is ConEst rules. Our Chief estimator is ready to pull the plug on Accubid and send it back to Canada where Accubid is from "Non American" because ConEst has the best reports, and substitution tools that Accubid can't do half of what they say they could..... as far as Vision..its the Home Depot special for the residential guys.