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2 contributions to Construction Contractors Hub
What Estimating Software Do You Actually Need?
So (please prove me wrong), all estimating software is fundamentally built around 3 core features: 1. Take-off tools. Every business needs one of these, the two main ones are planswift and Bluebeam. I love Bluebeam but a lot of people hate it. Its just he one I'm used to 2. Managing cost/productivity/quantity databases- ie storing labor, plant, material, subcontractor rates 3. Preparing prices - combining quantities with rates etc. For most contractors, all you need is a quantity take off tool and excel. There are trade specific tools, but they often just have more data and are tailored towards trade specific workflows And AI just adds intelligence to this process. Ie can convert bid documents into requirements, or automatically extract quantities from drawings I did a breakdown in this video. If you like + comment it helps the algorithm!
2 likes • Mar 5
Can you learn PlanSwift or BlueBeam without a subscription to them both?
Introduce Yourself
I'm keen to hear who everybody is, and what their goals are I assume you already know who I am. But if you don't I'm Tim. I worked for 8 years for big contractors on road, rail, renewable energy projects. I've always worked for head-contractors. I recently worked for some smaller contractors as a consultant when I left my job doing estimating and contract management. It was good, but I found it hard to see a path to scale (other than just starting a contracting business myself) So I instead decided to build software, and found that that's 100x harder than I thought and a very easy way to lose money
Introduce Yourself
2 likes • Mar 5
Keith here, 37 yrs in construction, former GC/home builder, health issue knocked me down for a couple years and I lost my business, starting to comeback, at 54y/o. Background in electrical/plumbing → GC. Currently estimating for a fence contractor but want to get back to PM/Estimating for an MEP or GC. Spend last 15yrs in residential unfortunately, so uphill battle. Found you on YT tonight, had left Skool last year after chasing AI/n8n hype frustrated with the grift, hoping to do some learning is all.
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Keith Bloemendaal
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1point to level up
@keith-bloemendaal-1741
37+ yrs in construction | NASCLA | Learning Code | AI | GitHub |

Active 11d ago
Joined Mar 5, 2026
Florida
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