Being recommended by a happy customer is arguably the best form of advertising any business could receive.

But not being able to cope with the sheer number of enquiries and quotes is not good for reputation or for business.

However for one Reading-based build firm, a switch from what would be viewed as being traditional methods of estimating to one of a slick, professional outfit has proved pivotal in its fortunes.

Worthy Builders in Reading is now looking to increase the number of residential projects it deals with having previously focused primarily on work such as schools, retirement homes, shops and offices.

With the business still providing work for its commercial clients, it’s on the residential side that Bob Owles has helped the firm steal a march on many of its competitors.

The secret to Bob’s ability to now produce highly accurate and professional looking estimates within the blink of an eye is thanks to HBXL’s award winning EstimatorXpress.

Having seen details on the software via the internet, Bob decided to challenge HBXL through its Estimating Service and sent in details of some jobs they had been asked to quote on. A few days later he then received back some highly detailed estimates which he and his colleagues were able to present to their client.

Soon after, Bob and the rest of the Worthy Builders management realised this was the way forward in terms of how it would now produce estimates.

They then decided to purchase a copy of both award winning EstimatorXpress and PlansXpress and haven’t looked back since.

Bob said: “Having too many jobs to quote for is a nice problem to have but you cannot let that go on for very long. Otherwise word will get out that there is no point asking for a quote from your business.

“I spotted details on EstimatorXpress via the web. Rather than buy the software outright at the beginning we tried the Estimating Service first and were impressed.

“We obviously realised that using EstimatorXpress was the way forward so quickly purchased it for ourselves.

“Once up and running we were soon producing estimates at a much more economical rate. A key feature for us is by far the final presentation of the customer quotation. We can include as much or little detail as required and the way it breaks everything down means nothing is missed.

“Because prices are updated directly via the software means we save huge amounts of time that otherwise would have been spent calling merchants.

“It makes Worthy Builders look more professional and it now doesn’t take very long to do what was a very monotonous job.”

Once Bob was up and running with HBXL’s estimating software, he soon got to grips with PlansXpress which helps uses produce architect quality plans, drawings, elevations and 3D visuals.

And because it links directly to the estimating software, no sooner has Bob produced outline plans for a new build, extension or loft conversion then a full estimate is produced right down to the last nail.

Bob added: “I initially used PlansXpress by tracing plans but am now creating original drawings. It’s an excellent process and gives us more control from receiving an enquiry to providing quote.

“I now like the software so much I play around with them on weekends and prefer to estimate a double garage rather than watch the TV! I even get out the laptop to design something for friends when they pop over for meal or drinks.

“Many builders are perhaps a bit apprehensive about using software technology for their business but I found using and learning the software relatively simple and it’s quite easy to get to grips with.

“There’s no way we’d go back to old way of estimating.”