A holiday can be a rare event for owners of a small residential building company. It can seem like an impossible goal. There’s always so much to sort beforehand and a million more things to deal with when you come back.
The HBXL Estimating Service can’t help with every issue (although our sister company definitely makes life much easier with its software…) but we can can help take one major part of that pressure away.
If you’re struggling with the pros and cons of a week in the sun, here are some answers to those all-important questions.
1. Can I stop estimating while I’m away?
Yes – because the estimating work itself does not have to stop.
You can send your drawings and project information to the HBXL Estimating Service and our experienced estimators can work through the project while you are away.
That means a potentially valuable opportunity does not have to sit untouched until you return.
You remain in control of which jobs you want to pursue. We simply take care of the detailed estimating work that can otherwise eat into your evenings, weekends and holiday time.
2. Can I avoid working day and night before I go?
That is certainly the idea.
The run-up to a holiday can be brutal when the building company revolves around you. Site work still needs attention. Clients want answers. Jobs need managing. Then the estimating gets pushed into the evenings because you are determined to clear everything before you leave.
The problem is that you get to the airport already exhausted.
Outsourcing suitable estimates before your holiday gives you the chance to reduce that last-minute rush.
Instead of trying to price every project yourself in a few frantic evenings, you can hand selected jobs over and focus on the things that genuinely need your personal attention.
3. Can I take a break without losing momentum?
Yes.
One of the biggest concerns for any business owner is all the work piling up during the holiday.
Estimating support helps keep one important part of the business moving.
If there’s a queue of quotations waiting in your inbox, give them to us.
That can make the difference between coming home ready to get back into the day-to-day business and coming home instantly overwhelmed.
4. Can I trust somebody else to estimate my projects?
This is probably the biggest question of all.
The answer depends on who is doing the work.
HBXL has years of experience working with builders. Our highly experienced and professional estimators are forensic when it comes to examining plans and specs, so nothing gets overlooked. Plus, they use EstimatorXpress software to produce detailed estimates.
The estimate covers all your labour, materials, plant and other project costs, with a set of 3D models, and a structured set of reports to help you understand the figures and present the job professionally.
You are not giving away control of your business.
You are getting experienced estimating support at a point when your own time is limited.
5. Can I afford to go on holiday and pay for an estimating service?
Can you afford not to go on holiday? That’s probably the real question. Time off gives you the chance to recharge, avoid burnout, reduce your stress levels and importantly, make lasting memories with friends and family.
So, turn off notifications, mute the group chats, move out of that high-alert state and properly switch off. That way, you’ll come back with a sharper brain, fresh ideas and renewed enthusiasm for your business.
Why wouldn’t you invest in a reset for your mind and body, with professionally-produced estimates and quotations? We don’t claim to be the cheapest, but you know what they say, buy cheap, pay twice… I’ll leave you to do the sums.
Holidays should not put your pipeline of work on hold
By arranging estimating support before you go, some of that work can already be moving while you are away.
The result can be a much softer landing.
Fewer late nights before the holiday.
No estimating during the holiday.
Less catching up afterwards.
And a better chance of returning to work feeling like the break actually worked.
Estimating is one of the hardest parts of a building business to pause.
But that does not mean you have to do every estimate yourself, at every point of the year.
The HBXL Estimating Service can provide extra capacity when you need it – whether that is before a holiday, during a busy spell, when a large project lands or simply when you want some of your evenings back.
So the next time you find yourself asking, “Can I really go away?”, ‘can I run a building company and take a holiday?’ the answer could be much simpler.
Yes.
You just need the right support in place. Upload your plans and specifications, and we’ll send you a no obligation price for doing the work. Happy holidays!