Sage Estimating Reviews

Totally flexible - can be used by virtually any trade as well as GC. From basic estimating needs to a complex reporting system, this software can do it.

Takes time to set-up properly. The software is ready to go out of the box, but to fine tune to make it "hum" takes more than just starting it up.

There are many construction estimating software packages on the market, but none is better at breaking down an estimate in all the ways that are needed. Sage Estimating can handle multi-building estimates, multiple work breakdown structures, and any other bid breakdowns that are needed. For us, most bids require some sort of cost breakdown, but rarely is it completely the same from estimate to estimate. Sage Estimating handles all these variables with ease.

Also, the ability to handle variable cost add-ons at the estimate "totals page" is a huge plus. Cost add-ons such as overtime hours or material cost escalations can be added via the database or on a estimate-by-estimate basis. When it comes to providing breakdowns to our GC clients, any cost add-ons can be spread throughout all or a few of the estimate items. This is a great feature.

Sage has been a very good vendor. The support they've provided over many years has been great and they've done a great job with software upgrades. The upgrades, adding new features and feature enhancements have kept Sage Estimating at the head of the construction estimating pack.

I've used Sage (and previously Timberline) for nearly 20 years, and the only consistent gripe I have is that installation of the program is tedious and has always required the help of an IT expert.

I like all the functions of this dinosaur. The software still uses fox pro old arcane DOS language.

I dislike the amount of money they want yearly. I hate their amount of money I have to spend every year to maintain this software with limited tech support.

The power of Sages' Smart Assemblies is the best feature along with the results being displayed in a full spreadsheet format that can be changed in real time. The ability to slice and dice your estimate data is extremely powerful along with their use of WBS codes.

The tech support has been a bit of a struggle but thank goodness for qualified consultants and Business Partners that can act as your first line of support.

While this product provides you with sample databases, it is best used by creating your own database with phase codes and pricing as you do your construction. You are able to separate each phase into categories, i.e., Labor, Material, etc. There are some standard ones, but you can also add your own categories which adds to the flexibility of this software.

It's not really a dislike, but it is quite complex. You need one main person who controls all changes to the database, keeps pricing updated, controls anyone changing/adding phase codes, etc. You would need that with any sophisticated database.

Product is very easy to use & easily manageable & changeable for your own details

It can get a bit complex at times and auto-save is both a blessing and a curse

Sage (Timberline) has been used for building industry primarily. You can use the advantage of their database or set up your own one based on the industry and market you are involved in. I recommend the software for Mid to Large Size building projects including residential or ICI.

The software is not user-friendly for heavy-civil or infrastructure projects as the functionality of crew cost method is not as easy as other heavy civil software.

I like the ease of use of all the programs. It is easy to learn. Easy to use.

The built in reports didn't really fit our company. We had to customized all of the reports.

This estimating program can do anything you want it to. It has the ability to be molded into however you want it to work for you.

Because it is so flexible it is also a little clunky. Quick takeoffs and estimates can be difficult. This feels like it is set up for the commercial realm of construction, in fact, I don't know many in residential construction that use this program.

We used this product for our estimators in my last Commercial Construction company. Works well with Sage 300 CRE. Allows you to set certain standard prices like labor rates. Calculate burden, buys, etc.

A little on the pricey side but that's about it. Many good features like importing into your Sage Project Management software.

for several years I thought that Excel is the best of estimating but when I learn about Sage, things are getting more better estimating can handle multi building estimates. Sage is continuously developing its software it has upgrade of what is best for making it better .

when Upgrading sage I need the help of IT Expert to do it for me , It takes time setting it up so workers like me needs help of more experienced or encounter this kind of issues.

The work packages is most useful to me. The quick Takeoff and Assembly.

I have been using sage estimating about 22 years. So when I started my new company I had to buy the newer version program that was as close to the old program that i had before. So it has been a learning curve to get use to the newer version. Just finding where line items are. Also so line item are in different division than what I use to. Such as fine grade is in earth work, I like it in Division three for the slab. It easy to put it in three, it just takes time to get it built like you want. Over time this will happen.

They are always developing the product and always on the cutting edge of technology. Around 2000, they had a product called the CAD Integrator; it was BIM before anyone understood what BIM was. They do not try to do everything (anymore). Instead of being decent at everything, they set the focus on the estimating product to make it great. Then they create partnerships with other dedicated software products that are also determined to make their piece of the pie the best. It allows for an integrated product that is the best of all worlds. The product is very easy to use and customizable to the user.

I would like it to have a better proposal output. However, most people I talk to say that it's not a big deal for them because every owner wants a proposal on their form.

Sage Estimating can provide a detailed level of estimating analysis based on material and labour libraries that either come with the software or are custom defined by the end-user.

Creating a custom material library is a very involved process which costs a lot of time and money to establish.

A stable, robust, customizable, construction estimating software

The initial setup can be complicated. The databases available at the time of purchase were not of much help for my specific use

Our client use it otherwise I would not be using it.

Difficult to use, easy to mess up (when substitute, it keeps asking to change similar item, no way to stop it and cannot undo), undo is very limited

Their training sessions help onboard our designers and estimators to using Sage, and this has really helped reduce our training time.

There's no such thing as a free lunch. This software is pricey for small companies to absorb, but if you fully embrace it you'll recover those costs quickly.

If you’re looking for a software that focuses and really takes estimating to the next level, then this software is for you.

Don’t really know what to say regarding cons, I really enjoyed using this software when I did use it.

Easy to use

Expensive

Precision Estimating is exactly what it sounds like--the most exact way to estimate a project! Sage is easy to work with, and their technical support staff is fantastic.

The most difficult part of using the software is in the initial setup.

Plenty of customization is available to have the output look and feel the way you want it, many modules to attach to and the ability to draw from database pricing information from external sources.

There is a steep learning curve for the beginning user. This is not a product for the occasional user.

It's easy to use and works well with Digitizer.

There are issues after updates. If you skip a few updates, it seems that some things don't work as well when you finally do update.

I liked the ability to submit journal entries when putting together the buyout for projects.

There are not as many query options as I would like any looking at the cost production of a project as it progresses.