Estimating Software We Work In
If your team already runs Bluebeam, PlanSwift, Xactimate, RSMeans, Accubid or STACK, you do not need to change tools to send us plans. We run the takeoff and pricing inside the platform your estimator opens every day, or hand back a file that drops straight into it. The output differs by platform: Xactimate returns carrier-formatted line items, RSMeans returns ZIP-code-adjusted unit costs for budget pricing, and takeoff tools return measured quantities by CSI MasterFormat division. Most projects come back in 24–48 hours as Excel and PDF organized by division, with marked-up plan sets. This page maps each software to the bid stage it fits, so you pick the right service before you send plans. If you already know the platform, go straight to get an estimate.
What this group covers and how the services differ
The six services under this hub split by platform, and the platform determines the deliverable more than anything else.
The six services
- Bluebeam Takeoff Services — measurement and markup inside Bluebeam Revu, returned as a marked-up PDF with a measurement layer plus an Excel quantity recap.
- PlanSwift Takeoff Services — assembly-based takeoff in PlanSwift, where each assembly carries its own waste factor and unit conversion.
- Xactimate Estimating Services — insurance restoration line items in the carrier's format, paired with claim scope rather than a competitive hard bid.
- RSMeans Cost Estimating — unit-cost line items priced from RSMeans data with ZIP-code adjustment, built for budgets and order-of-magnitude numbers.
- Accubid & Trimble Electrical Estimating — electrical assemblies with labor units, feeder and branch counts, and device counts by floor.
- STACK & On-Screen Takeoff Services — cloud and desktop quantity takeoff for teams that want measured quantities and nothing else.
Where the platforms overlap, and where they do not
Bluebeam and PlanSwift both measure square footage and linear footage, so for a simple drywall or flooring takeoff either one works and the choice is usually whichever file your estimator wants to open. The difference shows up in assemblies and pricing. PlanSwift holds assemblies that carry waste factors and labor; Bluebeam holds measurements and markup. Neither one produces Xactimate line items, and Xactimate line items cannot be substituted for a competitive hard bid because the line structure, depreciation logic and overhead-and-profit treatment follow carrier rules, not bid rules.
We do not sell software licenses. We run the takeoff and pricing inside the platform you already use, or hand back a file your estimator can open. Every deliverable goes out in Excel and PDF organized by CSI MasterFormat division, with marked-up plan sets, in 24–48 hours for most projects. Rush turnaround is available when your bid date moves up.
| Platform | Primary output | Best fit | Typical turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluebeam Revu | Marked-up PDF with measurement layer + Excel recap | Design development, change orders | 24–48 hours |
| PlanSwift | Excel takeoff by assembly and CSI division | Hard bid with full set | 24–48 hours |
| Xactimate | ESX/XML line items in carrier format | Insurance restoration claim | 24–48 hours |
| RSMeans data | Unit-cost report, ZIP-code adjusted | Conceptual and early budget | 24–48 hours |
| Accubid / Trimble | Electrical assemblies with labor units | Electrical-only hard bid | 24–48 hours |
| STACK / On-Screen Takeoff | Measured quantities by CSI division | Quantity takeoff only | 24–48 hours |
Service, use case, and deliverable
Use this table to match the platform to your bid stage before you send anything. The use-it-when column is the decision point; the deliverable column tells you what actually lands in your inbox.
If two services could apply, the bid stage usually settles it. A conceptual budget does not need assembly-level takeoff, and a hard bid does not need unit-cost averages. When the stage is ambiguous, we send a sample of the output format before you commit so you can see the file structure first.
| Service | Use it when | What you receive |
|---|---|---|
| Bluebeam Takeoff Services | Drawings exist, specs are thin, or you need a change-order quantity | Marked-up PDF with measurement layer, Excel takeoff by division |
| PlanSwift Takeoff Services | Full set for a hard bid, assemblies with waste factors | Excel takeoff by assembly and CSI division, marked-up PDFs |
| Xactimate Estimating Services | Insurance restoration claim with carrier scope | Xactimate ESX/XML line items matched to carrier format |
| RSMeans Cost Estimating | Conceptual or early budget, gross square footage and building type | RSMeans unit-cost report, ZIP-code adjusted |
| Accubid & Trimble Electrical | Electrical-only bid with feeders, branch and devices | Electrical assemblies with labor units, device counts by floor |
| STACK & On-Screen Takeoff | You need quantities only and will price them yourself | Measured quantities by CSI MasterFormat division |
How to choose the right service for your bid stage
Conceptual or early budget
RSMeans unit costs with ZIP-code adjustment, driven by gross square footage and building type rather than a detailed takeoff. This is the right call when the design is not far enough along for assemblies and you need a number for a pro forma or a go/no-go decision.
Design development with drawings but no specs
Bluebeam or PlanSwift quantity takeoff by CSI division, with waste factors applied at typical ranges — for example 5–10% on drywall and 3–5% on concrete. You get measured quantities you can price, not a bid.
Hard bid with a full set
Assembly-based takeoff in PlanSwift or Accubid, priced with RSMeans labor and material, delivered as an Excel recap plus marked-up PDFs. This is the service to pick when the bid date is fixed and the set is complete with addenda.
Insurance restoration
Xactimate line items matched to carrier scope, with depreciation and overhead-and-profit lines where the carrier format requires them. The line structure follows the carrier, so do not send a restoration claim expecting a competitive hard-bid recap.
Trade-specific electrical bid
Accubid or Trimble assemblies with labor units, feeder and branch counts, and device counts by floor. Send the electrical sheets, the panel schedules and the specs section for Division 26 so the assemblies match the specified gear.
When two services could apply
We tell you which one matches your bid deadline and send a sample of the output format before you commit. That avoids the common failure mode where a takeoff arrives in a format your estimator cannot open without rework.
Our process from plans to estimate
- You send plans, specs and addenda. We confirm the software, the CSI divisions in scope and the bid date. If the platform is not yet decided, we recommend one based on the bid stage.
- We log the drawing set and check revision dates. Anything that affects quantity — a missing addendum, a superseded sheet, a detail that contradicts the plan — becomes a question (RFI) before takeoff starts.
- Takeoff runs in the agreed platform. Measurements in Bluebeam or PlanSwift, assemblies in Accubid, line items in Xactimate, unit costs from RSMeans with ZIP-code adjustment.
- Quantities roll up by CSI MasterFormat division. Waste factors and unit conversions are applied and shown in the workbook, not buried in a formula cell.
- You receive Excel and PDF deliverables organized by division, plus marked-up plan sets, in 24–48 hours for most projects. Rush turnaround is available.
- One review round is included to reconcile your comments before the bid goes out. Send your markup and we adjust the quantities and the recap.
A note on accuracy: PDF-based takeoff depends on the drawing's scale and the quality of the vector linework. A full CAD set with reliable dimensions reduces the number of assumptions we have to state. Either way, we list the assumptions in the workbook so your estimator can see where a number came from. Confirm the adopted code edition with the local building department for anything code-driven, since editions vary by jurisdiction.
What you receive
- Excel estimate organized by CSI MasterFormat division
- PDF estimate with the same division structure
- Marked-up plan sets showing what was measured
- Xactimate ESX/XML line items when the service is restoration
- RSMeans unit-cost report with ZIP-code adjustment when the service is budget pricing
- Assumption and RFI list showing where quantities came from
- One review round to reconcile your comments before bid
Related services
Frequently asked questions
Can you produce a takeoff in Bluebeam Revu if my team only uses PlanSwift?
Yes. We measure in Bluebeam Revu and deliver a marked-up PDF with a measurement layer plus an Excel recap. If your team only opens PlanSwift, we can instead run the same takeoff in PlanSwift and hand back an Excel file by assembly and CSI division. Tell us which file your estimator will actually open and we match that output.
Do you deliver Xactimate line items in ESX or XML format for carrier upload?
We deliver Xactimate line items in the format your carrier accepts, including ESX and XML where the carrier requires it. Send the carrier's scope, the adjuster's estimate if one exists, and the loss details. The line structure follows the carrier format, so depreciation and overhead-and-profit lines are set the way that carrier expects.
How current is the RSMeans data you price with, and is it adjusted for my ZIP code?
We price from RSMeans data with ZIP-code adjustment for material and labor, so the unit costs reflect your market rather than a national average. The data year matters for a budget number, so tell us if your client requires a specific edition or cost year and we will note it on the report.
What do you need from me to start an Accubid or Trimble electrical takeoff?
Send the electrical sheets, panel schedules, one-line diagram, fixture schedule and the Division 26 specification section. Note the bid date and whether the gear is specified by model or by performance. With those, we build assemblies with labor units and return feeder, branch and device counts by floor.
How accurate are takeoffs done from PDF plans versus a full CAD set?
PDF takeoff depends on the drawing scale and the quality of the vector linework, so we verify scale on each sheet and state assumptions in the workbook. A full CAD set with reliable dimensions reduces assumptions. Either way, quantities roll up by CSI division and the assumption list shows where each number came from.
How long does a STACK or On-Screen Takeoff quantity takeoff take, and can you rush it?
Most projects come back in 24–48 hours, including STACK and On-Screen Takeoff quantity work. Rush turnaround is available when your bid date moves up. Send the set, the divisions in scope and the bid date, and we confirm the schedule before takeoff starts.
Send plans in the platform you already use
Tell us which software your estimator opens and the bid date, and we will confirm the service and send a sample of the output format before you commit.
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