Painting estimator - Paint Talk

fcsoldier · 09-12-2008, 09:25 PM

Anyone know a good program or have one i can use?

timhag · 09-13-2008, 01:20 AM

http://www.mypaintbid.com/.

fcsoldier · 09-13-2008, 08:47 AM

Thank you

stonemike20 · 06-02-2010, 11:03 PM

has anyone tried bid like a pro.and if so how would you rate it

BC_Painter · 06-02-2010, 11:10 PM

I use no software. My experience tends to disagree with some of the software numbers.

If anything, use a program that lets you input your own rates, you'll get better quotes.

If i need something beefier than my notes to streamline coming up with the numbers i use excel.

PatsPainting · 06-02-2010, 11:32 PM

I wrote my own to suit my needs

Pat

VanDamme · 06-03-2010, 12:48 AM

Pat, Are you going to market it? It looks interesting!

PatsPainting · 06-03-2010, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanDamme

Pat, Are you going to market it? It looks interesting!

At one time I had plans on doing that, but decided to just keep this a hobby of mine. maybe one day I will. still plenty of things I want to do with it. It's definitely not for everyone, more for the owner/operator with 6 or less employees. Its based off of how much per item instead of sq feet and other methods. For me this works best.

here is another screen shot of the main estimate section. to give you a idea on what I'm talking about.

Pat

Woodland · 06-03-2010, 01:34 AM

Wow, thats impressive. Im computer illiterate for the most part. I dont even know how to use Excel. Not much I cant do with an ATV though

VanDamme · 06-03-2010, 02:01 AM

Man.....I'd love to take a look at that!

Out of all the estimating programs I've trialed, the ONLY one I would even consider was a product wrapped in an Excel spreadsheet. Yours looks more of what I want.

P.S. I know how to estimate. The main reason I'd like to go electronic is to use a tablet PC w/BT printer and have the ability to print a professional looking proposal at the customers house instead of extending the bid at home, typing it up and sending by email.

If you need a beta tester and/or input, let me know.

nEighter · 06-03-2010, 02:12 AM

Was just thinking about how I need to relearn excel. That looks like a slick program you got there!

NCPaint1 · 06-03-2010, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nEighter

Was just thinking about how I need to relearn excel. That looks like a slick program you got there!

Thats really cool Pat

Im pretty sure www.mypaintbid.com has both a homeowner and a contractor version similar to what you have. It can log materials, time frames, number of employees, employees costs and even drive time. Shoot Tom an Email at mypaintbid for more info.

ewingpainting.net · 06-03-2010, 01:11 PM

Neat Pat,

i just use excel. I've found that every job differs from one another. With excel it's easy to change around to fit whatever that particulate job calls for.

PatsPainting · 06-05-2010, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ewingpainting.net

Neat Pat,

i just use excel. I've found that every job differs from one another. With excel it's easy to change around to fit whatever that particulate job calls for.

Thanks bud, This thing started in excel many years ago. or the concept did. Thought it would be more of a challenge for me to give it it's own platform. It still uses excel but only for the proposals, Invoices and you can export the customer database to excel. I really did not want to re create the wheel for the graphics and chit when it came to the proposals and stuff.

Other things that it will do is on the progress page you can get a idea on where your at on large or long jobs. Will let you know if your ahead or behind schedule. What I 'm working on now is the building of proposals, I hate writing these fookers, I would rather sand eaves all day with out a mask then sit down and write a proposal. I have no idea why but that just me. So I'm trying to create a way that will make this very easy. Also Im working on a paperclip guy type of deal, instead of a paper clip it will be a painter dude

. This painter dude will pop up when he sees a error, he will analyze your estimated profits vs actual profits in your customer data base area and make suggestions on how to correct it. Maybe if your closing rate is real low, he might suggest changing your attire when your doing your estimates

Some day when i get this thing finished I will be more then happy to release it here in a beta version. Have no idea when that will be though.

Pat

vermontpainter · 06-05-2010, 10:03 PM

Pat

That is really cool.

VanDamme · 06-05-2010, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatsPainting

Thanks bud, This thing started in excel many years ago. or the concept did. Thought it would be more of a challenge for me to give it it's own platform. It still uses excel but only for the proposals, Invoices and you can export the customer database to excel. I really did not want to re create the wheel for the graphics and chit when it came to the proposals and stuff.

Other things that it will do is on the progress page you can get a idea on where your at on large or long jobs. Will let you know if your ahead or behind schedule. What I 'm working on now is the building of proposals, I hate writing these fookers, I would rather sand eaves all day with out a mask then sit down and write a proposal. I have no idea why but that just me. So I'm trying to create a way that will make this very easy. Also Im working on a paperclip guy type of deal, instead of a paper clip it will be a painter dude

. This painter dude will pop up when he sees a error, he will analyze your estimated profits vs actual profits in your customer data base area and make suggestions on how to correct it. Maybe if your closing rate is real low, he might suggest changing your attire when your doing your estimates

Some day when i get this thing finished I will be more then happy to release it here in a beta version. Have no idea when that will be though.

Pat

Pat, How'd you get into programming?

PatsPainting · 06-05-2010, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanDamme

Pat, How'd you get into programming?

Another hobby I got into about 9 years ago fooling around with micro-controllers. assembly language, working with simulators, understanding bitwise logic and that sort of stuff. It was forums just like these but not talking about painting and no one used their regular names

.

Started fooling with vb.net about two years ago. I don't get to mess with it like I wish I could. sometimes I will go several months with out doing anything. Its allot of fun for me though when I get the time.

Pat

VanDamme · 06-05-2010, 11:38 PM

Very cool! I'm slowly getting back into it myself as time allows. Product of choice is RealBasic http://www.realsoftware.com/realbasic/ Currently messing around with Brilliant Database. Nice (and fairly powerful) program if you're not in to SQL, MySQL, etc. and don't want to mess w/a front-end.

Was in to IT (Microsoft) for 3 or 4 years, but decided a desk job was not my cup of tea.

Now I do remote support for a few customers from my place late at night. Easy money sitten' on my butt and drinking coffee!

PatsPainting · 06-24-2010, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VanDamme

Very cool! I'm slowly getting back into it myself as time allows. Product of choice is RealBasic http://www.realsoftware.com/realbasic/ Currently messing around with Brilliant Database. Nice (and fairly powerful) program if you're not in to SQL, MySQL, etc. and don't want to mess w/a front-end.

Was in to IT (Microsoft) for 3 or 4 years, but decided a desk job was not my cup of tea.

Now I do remote support for a few customers from my place late at night. Easy money sitten' on my butt and drinking coffee!

Just saw this post, that looks pretty cool "real basic" never heard of it before or I might but never paid attention to it. If you ever decide to dive into vs.net let me know, if you can do stuff in real basic then Im sure you will love vs.net. It seems that real basic if very similar to vb6. Things have changed a bit between vb6 and the netframework stuff.

I have fixed several of my customers computers too, kinda fun, I never charge though.

I know its summer time but this stuff is a blast when you got nothing to do.

Pat

VanDamme · 06-24-2010, 11:12 PM

I also wish I had more time to pursue programming. It's a great hobby!

I remote in to fix computers. I use logmein for remote assistance/maintenance and Dameware for the menagerie of local computers we have around here.