Millbrook Building Solutions is a Basingstoke-based building company that was established in 2001. A small, family run business, it is committed to promoting traditional values and producing excellent standards of workmanship on time and on budget.

Headed by Neil Kenah, the firm focuses on work such as extensions, refurbishments and alterations, sunrooms, disabled adaptations and garage conversions. Sticking to the company’s philosophy of approaching every aspect of work it operates with the highest standards of integrity the team values all of their customers.

Part of the company’s success is through its use of HBXL’s EstimatorXpress that has enabled the team to win more work by providing estimates quickly and accurately.

Prior to using EstimatorXpress Neil used a different package. However although it looked good and appeared to be very simple, it had so many glitches Neil soon reverted back to using spreadsheets and paperwork.

It was then that Neil read a review about HBXL and visited the team at a trade show to see a demonstration of its EstimatorXpress software. So impressed, he has been using it ever since, not only reducing the time he spends producing estimates but increasing the win ratio for the work quoted for.

One of the most important aspects for Neil is the fact that HBXL hasn’t forgotten that the main users of the software are builders.

It means the package can be easily navigated via the on-screen drawings where Neil simply inputs the dimensions of the job in hand.

Neil said: “Back in the early 2000s I knew that using estimating software was the way forward in terms of producing quotes for clients. Producing spreadsheets was such a laborious way to work and took up so much time.

“Although my first encounter with an estimating package wasn’t very successful having switched to HBXL things soon took a turn for the better.

“I’ve had numerous dealings with various software support teams, but no one comes close to HBXL. The staff are very knowledgeable and are always keen to help and advise.

“For me it is also important that HBXL haven’t forgotten who their program is aimed at, namely builders. It means when you speak to one of the team, they are aware that we are not all computer savvy!

“This is unlike HBXL’s competitors who seem to think that their support should be run like an accounting software package which they then charge for accordingly.

“Most of my time was spent sorting out a poorly written estimating program and run time errors and had nothing to do with estimating or inputting.

“That’s why I changed and can honestly say it was the best thing we did.

“I have adapted a few workbooks to do specific tasks that suit the way we work and have noticed how well EstimatorXpress is working. I would recommend it highly to anyone thinking about using software for their estimating as well as those who currently use other packages.”