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RSMeans Data Online Logo

Estimating software for the construction industry

RSMeans Data Online Reviews - Page 9

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303 reviews

Recommended

JL
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J Leland K.

Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, 51-200 employees

Used monthly for 2+ years

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend8/10

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Very good but not perfect

Reviewed 5 years ago

Ability to customize specific tasks that are not standard in the industrial installations.

Pros

Up to date installation and material costs throughout the United States

Cons

Searching for specific tasks that are not listed. Not enough specific industrial electrical installation tasks.

RW
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Randy W.

Construction, 51-200 employees

Used weekly for less than 6 months

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend6/10

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Means features-pros and cons

Reviewed 5 years ago

Helps us be more accurate with our initial budget prices with owners, thus reducing our risk to being tied to a sq ft price that doesn't reflect true market costs. Helps owners make quicker investment decisions, and allows us to partner with them.

Pros

Quick overall budgets by using square foot estimator. Helps to get an idea where prices should be. This is the only feature that is important to me in my role.

Cons

Difficult to customize the sq ft estimate to materials matching the job I'm pricing. Too cumbersome to pull in assemblies--lookup feature doesn't find key words well. No good pre-engineered assembly or sq ft building option.

JB
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James B.

Insurance, self-employed

Used other for 1-2 years

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend10/10

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Area specific pricing.

Reviewed 5 years ago
Pros

Easy to use and able to use pricing for specific locations.

Cons

Not able to run a simple report separating labor and materials

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Alvaro S.

Construction, 1-10 employees

Used monthly for less than 6 months

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend10/10

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Beginner user

Reviewed 5 years ago

I am using to estimate construction cost of electrical work

Pros

I can find cost in local currency. Somehow easy to navigate (easier than a pdf at least)

Cons

Nothing yet since I haven't have many opportunities to use it yet

MG
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Matthew G.

Construction, 1,001-5,000 employees

Used other for 1-2 years

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend5/10

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RSMeans

Reviewed 5 years ago
Pros

The data is available online rather than in hard copy.

Cons

The online database is difficult to navigate.

TK
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Trishi K.

Food & Beverages, 10,001+ employees

Used monthly for 1-2 years

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend10/10

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Great and Extremely detailed information. The tool requires a bit of a learning curve

Reviewed 5 years ago

Insightful and extremely detailed information plus the cost models are very good to have. The customer service is also prompt and helpful. Slight learning curve before you can effectively start using the tool.

Pros

The information presented is extremely detailed and is available for a plethora of cities and towns in US and Canada. Building cost models with custom configurations are very useful.

Cons

The tiered approach and the overlap of line items in the datasets.

TM
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Thomas M.

Architecture & Planning, 11-50 employees

Used monthly for 2+ years

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend10/10

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Great Work RSMeans

Reviewed 5 years ago

We used RSMeans Data Online both as a sales tool and as a construction cost verification tool.

Pros

Ease of use of square foot cost estimates, especially substitution of systems.

Cons

Not every cost line item corresponds with actual products, but we are usually able to determine the equivalent.

AL
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Albert L.

Architecture & Planning, 11-50 employees

Used monthly for 2+ years

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend6/10

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Renovation concerns

Reviewed 3 years ago

Construction Estimates on Governmental projects.

Pros

the search engine is easy to use, if sometimes confusing in terminology

Cons

The database does not include all of the items/services that I frequently deal with in renovation/rehabilitation

LW
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Lyne W.

Construction, 1-10 employees

Used daily for less than 6 months

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend8/10

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My Opinion

Reviewed 8 years ago

I have been using the online version for about 8 months and although I am old school (paper & books), it has taken me some time to get use to it.

Pros

Convient

Cons

Knowing what Means "calls" items in order to find them. So I may enter a common trade name for an item and Means doesn't recognize it.

DM
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David M.

Education Management, 1,001-5,000 employees

Used monthly for 2+ years

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend8/10

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Online Estimates

Reviewed 5 years ago
Pros

The software has all of the features and data needed to create professional estimates.

Cons

The user management is terrible. If you regularly assign different people to use this software within your organization the features for managing that task do not work!

MT
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Michelle T.

Construction, 51-200 employees

Used monthly for 2+ years

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend8/10

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RS Means Review

Reviewed 5 years ago

We use the pricing data when pricing change orders and/or unit prices. Customers usually accept this method.

Pros

Ease of use in finding pricing. And general acceptance by most owners/customers when using pricing for change orders

Cons

a little pricey but all other features are good

MD
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Mike D.

Architecture & Planning, 11-50 employees

Used monthly for 1-2 years

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend5/10

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RS means review

Reviewed 3 years ago
Pros

The ability to search the data base and have the latest up to date data information drove the transition from the books to the online data base.

Cons

great for looking up information but could not make the effort of assembling a project cost online worth the effort. still look up the data and type it into our excel spread sheet.

LF
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Luke F.

Construction, 1-10 employees

Used weekly for 6-12 months

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend9/10

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Great Tool

Reviewed 5 years ago

So far I think it is a great product

Pros

The database is very inclusive and has tons of great data for the price.

Cons

The organization of cost items sometimes makes it difficult to locate the appropriate line item for your project.

TM
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Tim M.

Construction, 1-10 employees

Used monthly for 2+ years

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend10/10

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I recommend RSMeans

Reviewed 5 years ago
Pros

It's very customizable for location and time period. It's easy to use if you're generally familiar with the RS Means books, and you know it's up to date.

Cons

You must have an internet connection, but this isn't much of an issue most of the time.

CK
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Con K.

Construction, self-employed

Used weekly for 6-12 months

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend10/10

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Comprehensive and detailed construction costs

Reviewed 5 years ago

I am solving the necessity of calling around to vendors and subcontractors to get updated pricing.

Pros

I like the quarterly updates and the ability to calculate local costs factors

Cons

Getting specific cost reports is cumbersome

GS
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Garima S.

Transportation/Trucking/Railroad, 201-500 employees

Used weekly for 6-12 months

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend9/10

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Good quality data that's readily available!

Reviewed 5 years ago
Pros

The software is easy to use, reliable and fast. The data is accurate and helps me do my estimation in a much better and organised manner now.

Cons

Needs more transportation related data points.

BF
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Bryce F.

Environmental Services, 10,001+ employees

Used monthly for 1-2 years

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend9/10

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Pros&Cons

Reviewed 5 years ago

Overall, I have a positive experience with RSMeans doing construction related estimates that came out very accurate to the actual overall costs. It is easy to use and being able to generate excel sheets is my favorite feature.

Pros

That it is credible and easy to generate excel files that can be used to show clients for expected costs.

Cons

Need more control with the Manage Estimates tab i.e. allow you to move line items up or down.

DO
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Dylan O.

Facilities Services, 1-10 employees

Used monthly for 2+ years

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend5/10

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RSMeans Data Online Review

Reviewed 6 years ago

Using it to price materials and labor estimates for recommended Energy Conservation Measures we offer in our energy audit reports.

Pros

It provides aggregated/averaged up-to-date pricing info.

Cons

A little unwieldy; search functions could be better optimized.

KD
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Kelsey D.

Facilities Services, 201-500 employees

Used weekly for less than 6 months

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend9/10

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Review

Reviewed 5 years ago

We just began using it but so far it has the capabilities we need it to.

Pros

The amount of building options to create close costs for our facilities

Cons

When I login the login dropdown malfunctions and does not make it easy to select login to application. Once I have completed a life cycle cost there is no way to return to the previous screen, I have to go back to the login page (with the malfunction) and go back to create new estimates. Small functionality things could be improved such as those when users are working on creating several estimates at once.

RE
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Robert E.

Construction, 1-10 employees

Used daily for less than 6 months

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend10/10

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Great detailed product

Reviewed 5 years ago

Provides ease and confidence in putting together a bid

Pros

Great amount of detail and ability to change data output

Cons

Still early into using this product and having found anything I dislike as of yet.

KG
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Kyle G.

Construction, 11-50 employees

Used weekly for 6-12 months

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend9/10

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Industry standard pricing

Reviewed 5 years ago
Pros

East to use, easy to present back up pricing for both labor and material to customers

Cons

Search function can be a bit wonky at first. Once you know how to use it, its fine

GS
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Gary S.

Construction, 11-50 employees

Used monthly for 2+ years

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend7/10

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A requirement For us for a Federal Gov. mechanical IDIQ contract

Reviewed 5 years ago

Good overall experience sometimes use for budgets or to assist in figuring change orders.

Pros

The layout & format of the online service

Cons

sometimes the search comes up empty unless you key in exactly how the line item is listed

NC
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Norie C.

Construction, 51-200 employees

Used monthly for 2+ years

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend8/10

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RS Means Estimating Data Online

Reviewed 5 years ago

Good so far.

Pros

It pretty much has detail estimates and has different options to choose from.

Cons

It takes time to get used to it in regards to functionality. I have to get trained to get the value of the software.

AA
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Amer A.

Construction, 1-10 employees

Used daily for less than 6 months

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend10/10

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Next level

Reviewed 5 years ago

Great from sales to support

Pros

Real world data puts this one man shop in a level with much bigger companies

Cons

The planes are too small some of the information is redundant

DM
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David M.

Construction, 501-1,000 employees

Used monthly for 2+ years

Review source

Overall Rating
  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Features
  • Customer support
  • Likelihood to recommend9/10

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Estimating

Reviewed 5 years ago

Very good... it's a good tool that we like to use.

Pros

Getting feedback that my costs are up to date

Cons

Some costs don't match what the market says things are worth... sometimes the unit costs have too many pieces to it.