The Power Of Item(s)
You save time and reduce errors because you can enter a quantity only once in LiteningFast, where you may have to make 3 or 4 entries to capture the same information in QuickBooks Pro.
Items are organized within sections. So, you'd find the Framing items in the Framing section, Roofing items in the Roofing section, and so on.
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"I build 6 to 8 custom homes a year and
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So, if you are doing a framing taking off, you would have a cost per linear foot (or it could be per square foot, depending on how you estimate, or your subs bid) for the framing materials, and framing labor. Or if you subcontract it there would be a subcontract cost, and perhaps a cost for materials, depending on how you work with the sub. Framing materials would include the lumber, of course, and may also include the cost of insulation, the outside wrap and even the interior drywall. The labor for the framing would include the labor for framing plus the labor for the other parts, like insulation, and interior drywall. This flexibility means that you can create the items any way you want which means you can easily structure the system to fit your way of doing estimating.
Sample Take off Item List
| Item | Description | Mat'l $/Unit | Labor $/Unit | Equip $/Unit | Sub $/Unit | Misc. $/Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 420.10 | 2X4 Exterior Wall Framing | 2.50 | 2.75 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 420.20 | 2X6 Exterior Wall Framing | 2.80 | 2.75 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Summary
So, you're going to save time, money and have more accurate estimates. Sections allow you to organize your take-offs in a logical manner which helps reduce errors and saves you time by not having to search through huge lists of items. You also save time and reduce errors with Take-off items because one quantity entry will calculate the costs for material, labor, equipment, subcontracts, and miscellaneous costs.