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302 Reviews
- Industry: Management Consulting
- Company size: 2-10 Employees
- Used Weekly for 6-12 months
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support Software
- Likelihood to recommend 9.0 /10
Great For Estimators of all Levels
Reviewed on 2/5/2019
I think RS Means is a valuable tool for various levels of estimating, from the non-experienced estimator to the very qualified estimator. From any level, RS Means can provide a sanity check or baseline of putting together a comprehensive estimate. Used with caution, it is a great tool.
Pros
Easy to navigate and understand. Software contemplates so many different scenarios that it can be easy to obtain the information you are looking for. I really like the factoring for various city indices.
Cons
Provides general information. Need to use the software with caution. Understanding the factors of the various line items is key in developing accurate and reasonable estimates.
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 2-10 Employees
- Used Daily for 1+ year
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support Software
- Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10
Estimating for Computer Dummies
Reviewed on 6/20/2019
I have been using RSMeans since 1984. I started in college with the book, then eventually to a CD, and now online. My business could not survive without it. Its is the best program on the market. I have tried other programs as samples and they cannot compete with RSMeans. And as to technical help, RSMeans is the best I have ever dealt with, if you have a problem they are great with helping you.
Pros
It makes my estimating easier and faster. It would be impossible to estimate a project without RS Means. Its also gives me an advantage to check subcontractors quotes. In addition, I can bid projects in different areas around the country, which has open vast business opportunities in the construction industry that I would not be able to accomplish before I had the program.
Cons
I wish program had virtual "Cortana" like Microsoft. Sometimes I need to find an item and I don't know how to ask RS Means what the item is and all I get for a response is that there is no line item. Also, I wish they had more items to chose from and good example is ceramic tile such as: 12" x 24", 18" x 18", 24" x 24". These items are becoming more prevelent. RSMeans needs to keep up with HGTV as items are changing with the times.
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 2-10 Employees
- Used Weekly for 1-5 months
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support Software
- Likelihood to recommend 0.0 /10
Not happy with service or customer service.
Reviewed on 9/19/2019
RSMeans did nothing but cost a lot of money and provide inaccurate information.
Pros
Unfortunately it is hard to like much about the software. Many of the assemblies are inaccurate. I am still waiting for a response from the technical service department for a "ticket" that the sales rep put in 5 months ago about inaccurate calculations.
Cons
The customer service is almost non existent. Emails and the website advertise that their is customer service available until 10 PM. After speaking with a very unpleasant gentlemen, named Kireee, that responded to me by saying "oh my god, reeeally", I discovered he didn't know how to do anything more than sign on to the program. He was the same individual that promised I would get a call back from the training department 8 hours earlier, because he doesn't know anything about construction, only how to log on to the program. He had no idea how to even start an estimate. When he offered to sign on to my computer screen, the software program he used was too outdated for my computer which gets updated regularly. Needless to say, no one from the company ever contacted me. When I called back to speak to a different customer service rep, another "at home" person, named Athena, answered with a hostile attitude. Her only response was to also have someone call back.
- Industry: E-Learning
- Company size: 1,001-5,000 Employees
- Used for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support Software
- Likelihood to recommend 8.0 /10
RSMeans Review
Reviewed on 6/19/2019
I teach an online class every year during a 10-weeks summer quarter at the University of Washington. During the class period, I bring the students to know and learn most of the details about RSMeans in order to let them know how to use it to do cost estimating for heavy civil projects. Later on, they let their companies know about it and possibly have full subscription (i.e. I am marketing on behalf of RSMeans). However, students have to pay one-full year of subscription to use the software for 10 weeks. They have been blaming me for the high cost for the short period of time use!
I would not be able to use the educational version that you offer because it is limited and will not be helpful for my graduate class.
I would highly suggest offering a tailored product in which data is tailored to the need of education, for a limited time for a partial cost. McGraw Hill offers educators to make e-book from a combination of chapters of several books. The ebook is purchased for a partial price for a limited time.
Alternatively, i would highly suggest offering a prior year data at a discounted cost to be used for a limited time. For example, offer subscribing to 2017 or 2018 base data (without quarter update) at a discount. This would help students getting to know how the software work and use the old data to do the estimates.
You could offer access that expires after certain date. Teachers could supply student names in an online form that you used to verify the subscription.
Pros
Organization of the estimating items based on the Masterformat.
Comprehensive list of the estimating items.
Ability to verify estimates using the crew listing and the crew production rates.
Cons
Some estimating items should be available in both the commercial and heavy civil products, but it is only available in the commercial offer.
- Industry: Real Estate
- Company size: 51-200 Employees
- Used Weekly for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Ease of Use
- Likelihood to recommend 5.0 /10
Would like more clarity on when/why certain components drop out of the SF model...
Reviewed on 6/21/2019
I'm estimating building components for the purpose of assigning different depreciation recovery periods for federal tax purposes. I've used this tool since it came out and have used RS Means data (formerly the books) my entire career (over 35 years).
Pros
1) I like that we can tweak the individual components within the SF model.
2) I like being able to take an existing model I've created in past years and update it with current (or whatever year is relevant) costs to create an estimate for a different year version.
Cons
1) Historically, the cost of this tool has skyrocketed much faster than inflation every year.
2) Sometimes we make square foot models and the output doesn’t include costs for what I would assume are key parts of the building. We’ve had issues in the past with roof structure not being a part of the model but recently I generated a model that didn’t have costs for interior partitions, even though it most definitely should have. Is there a way for them to tell us which models exclude certain costs? Sometimes these are difficult to catch in our reviews.
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 501-1,000 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support Software
- Likelihood to recommend 8.0 /10
shared Data Base
Reviewed on 10/24/2018
Pros
The access to all the trades and the ability to match items to specifications has been a great help. also being able to retrieve old proposals and have them update quickly
Cons
I also have the JOC software from RS Means which no one at RS Means seams to understand and they have tied my passwords to the same account but if I am locked out of one I can not get in the other one.
Then all the tech know how to fix this is delete all your cookies. these are place markers for other programs and be cause of the failed IT side of this it makes it hard to accept it as a leader.
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 51-200 Employees
- Used for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support Software
- Likelihood to recommend 5.0 /10
RS Means at our Firm
Reviewed on 2/5/2020
We provide our customers with budgetary estimates during our design processes.
Pros
Ability to line item choose from all RS Means disciplines we subscribe to. Ability to customize our output reports. RS Means have the majority of the systems that we need to provide accurate budgetary estimates.
Cons
I administer our RS Means account, but I very, very seldom use it myself. As the account admin, I am forced to be one of the user accounts; therefore, I have to allow staff to log on with my e-mail and password to use the online cost estimating. We have determined that we do not need more than two simultaneous accounts and our preference would be to assign the licenses to who needs them, when they need them. I can do that with the non-admin license, but not with the one assigned to me. I’d prefer not to have staff logging on as me (administrator).
- Industry: Civil Engineering
- Company size: 11-50 Employees
- Used Daily for 1-5 months
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support Software
- Likelihood to recommend 9.0 /10
RS Means
Reviewed on 2/22/2019
I was tasked to gather reliable quotes for new construction and renovations to buildings, wastewater treatment plants and other items based on a provided damage report and memo. I found that RS Means was exceptionally reliable in providing quotes for buildings (i.e. drywall, receptacle, windows, doors, lighting etc.). My main problem and realization with RS Means were that I had to contact manufacturing and distributing companies to gather quotes for the larger more expensive equipment that are housed in wastewater facilities. I can only image that RS Means do not have a major need to have those types of quotes, but it would help to fully round out a great software tool. My overall experience with RS Means was positive regardless of the minor limitation.
Pros
I liked the ease of picking up the software functionality for gathering reasonable quotes for new and renovations to buildings, streets and treatment plants.
Cons
At times I found that the software was lacking in overall speed when loading requested search items. I was able to minimize this issue by refining my search request as best I could but for new users attempting to compare all items of a requested search it will slow down RS Means, and you would have to wait until the system loads the various items. This was mainly an issue when I had over 700 results for a single search.
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 2-10 Employees
- Used Weekly for 6-12 months
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support Software
- Likelihood to recommend 9.0 /10
RSMeans Online
Reviewed on 10/12/2018
Overall it is good data and good software and we have been using it to get reasonable estimates for our jobs.
Pros
The data is updated regularly and is relevant to the local area
Cons
One has to consider the estimate given by the software for reasonableness. Sometimes their numbers are obviously not correct. For the work done most often this is not the case. For some less common work efforts, their data is questionable.
The way they name the tasks is sometimes arcane. it seems like people are organizing the data that have not done the work before. Maybe they could use pointers to give something multiple entry points for different ways of saying it. They seem to have "maintenance" relatively often on the weekends, making it hard to use at that time.
- Industry: Higher Education Software
- Company size: 2-10 Employees
- Used Weekly for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Ease of Use
- Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10
RS Means for Cost Estimating
Reviewed on 2/12/2019
I use RSMeans to do cost estimates for building repairs, retrofits, remodels and equipment replacements.
Pros
The outline style breakdown helps with finding what you are looking for in a timely manner
Cons
The search function is tough to get the wording just right to find what you are looking for
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 5,001-10,000 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support Software
- Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10
Review of the pros and cons of RS Means Online
Reviewed on 10/31/2019
In general, I have had excellent experience with Means. I feel confident in their prices, wages and factors for various areas of the country. I live in Mexico so would love to have a Spanish version.
Pros
the scope of the cost items is very extensive. The wage rates are very good and the crews are excellent
Cons
they should have versions for Power Plants, Refineries, Mining and Metals and other large types of projects. They should also design it so that there would be a industry standard type of estimate report.
Means used to have a Spanish language version. They should continue with this version.
- Industry: Mining & Metals
- Company size: 1,001-5,000 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Ease of Use
- Likelihood to recommend 8.0 /10
Project Cost Estimating
Reviewed on 6/20/2019
I'm doing cost estimate for mining projects. The projects covers work of many disciplines like civil, electrical, mechanical, piping...etc. RS Means provides reasonable support in terms of cost estimating for mining projects but not enough details and this is why I use usually another database for comparisons and fill the gaps not provided by RS Means.
Pros
The software is easy to use and has a good details about required man hours for tasks and the pricing of materials and equipment.
Cons
It covers only commercial projects and has minimal support for industrial projects.
- Industry: Accounting Software
- Company size: 10,000+ Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Ease of Use
- Likelihood to recommend 9.0 /10
Ease the headaches of Costing
Reviewed on 10/12/2018
Pros
One of my favorite features with this software is the locator. Having the costs customized to your location is so handy and much more accurate than applying a general multiplier to each item.
Cons
My least favorite feature about RSMeans is the subcategories. I love having all of my HVAC costs in one category but I find the subcategories hard to navigate and find exactly what I'm looking for.
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 10,000+ Employees
- Used Weekly for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support Software
- Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10
Using R S Means On Line
Reviewed on 6/28/2019
Means Data Online is an estimating tool you can take with you. Where ever you have connectivity, you can generate and estimate. The search feature makes using the online product much easier and quicker that the book style where you have to search through multiple pages to find a particular item - or use the index. With the online data, you can print out your estimate where (with the book data) you have the correct data but what do you do with it?
Pros
The name and cost date compiled by R S Means is known nation (or world) wide as a respected source of cost data. It is easy to use and estimators everywhere can generate a consistent estimates.
Cons
Means needs to increase their intuitional/industrial cost data.
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 10,000+ Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support Software
- Likelihood to recommend 8.0 /10
Need Improvement in Certain Areas
Reviewed on 6/28/2019
Contract requires RSM pricing. This makes it easier
Pros
It is so much easier than the books! You can search but need to narrow it down for speed.
Cons
I can't search as fast as I would like and can't customize the export into Excel to match my contract spreadsheet. Also exports into Excel that have certain symbols, do not work
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 2-10 Employees
- Used Daily for 6-12 months
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support Software
- Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10
RSMeans allowed my company to take our bidding to the next level
Reviewed on 6/13/2019
My small-business enterprise construction company has won a large number of bids following the adoption of RSMeans. We used to work only through Excel and use memory, material numbers, and past experience to bid. Now, we are winning more jobs, completing bids faster, and bidding more accurately.
Pros
Offers accurate unit prices for specific areas, eliminates toggling between applications for estimating, quick turn-around times for bids
Cons
No ability to filter searches, i.e. filter search within specific line item, sometimes when searching in the search bar the word does not register when hitting "enter", you must manually click the "Search" button
- Industry: Transportation/Trucking/Railroad
- Company size: 1,001-5,000 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support Software
- Likelihood to recommend 8.0 /10
RS Means review
Reviewed on 6/20/2019
Overall experience over last 2 years has been excellent. Prior to that it renewing subscription turned into a mess every year (not being billed timely, billed 2 and 3 times)
Pros
ease of use, costing data is updated on a regular basis
Cons
thinks that i like least are addressed in more expensive packages
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 2-10 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support Software
- Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10
President/CEO
Reviewed on 2/19/2019
We are a commercial construction company that competitive bid on projects .
Pros
The software is user friendly and gives a good foundation for cost estimating.
Cons
Sometimes I find the cost estimate to be rather low compared to actual bids.
- Industry: Civil Engineering
- Company size: 51-200 Employees
- Used Weekly for 1+ year
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support Software
- Likelihood to recommend 8.0 /10
Great Resrouce
Reviewed on 9/28/2021
RSMeans Online has been a great learning tool for both experienced professional on our team as well as entry-level individuals.
Pros
We switched from e-books to RSMeans Online and it has been great! Our team finds it more interactive, easier to find information, and overall a great experience.
Cons
There are so many different packages and customizations which is good on one hand, but also a bit much as some people want more functions while others wouldn't necessarily use them.
Response from Gordian
Hi Caitlin - Thank you for submitting your feedback and we are glad to hear that your experience after switching to RSMeans Data Online has been great!
We've passed your feedback along to the Product Development team to take into consideration for future enhancements of the packages and customizations.
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 11-50 Employees
- Used Daily for 1+ year
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support Software
- Likelihood to recommend 8.0 /10
Good Experience
Reviewed on 10/4/2021
Pros
Rs means has a good database with a timely update with the latest prices.
Cons
Rs Means is not best with the user friendly
Response from Gordian
Hello Shobhit - Thank you for taking the time to submit feedback of your experience with RSMeans Data Online.
We have provided your feedback to the Product Development team around user friendliness to be considered in future enhancements.
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 201-500 Employees
- Used Monthly for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Likelihood to recommend 9.0 /10
RS Means Data Online
Reviewed on 7/2/2019
It saves the time of having to pull a physical paper copy of the RS Means books of the shelf and searching though pages for data. As stated, it is much easier and convenient to search for items in the online data base and adjustments for time and location are done for you rather than having to search for a factor in the book and calculating every item you look up with these factors. Data is also updated quarterly, while the physical book is updated yearly.
Pros
I like that it is a comprehensive database of all of the RS Means Books in one easy to access, online database. Searching for items is fairly easy. Adjusting prices for markets and quarters of the year is easy with one touch of a button
Cons
The descriptions of items are long and if you try to extend the description field so that you can understand what item you are looking at, you lose some of the productivity and cost data fields. The viewing box could stand to be larger to allow for more data to be visible
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: Self Employed
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support Software
- Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10
What's not to like!
Reviewed on 6/13/2019
Great on-line experience unless you get a power outage.
Pros
The ease of looking up specific material items.
Cons
The inclusion of new technology pricing has a wait.
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 10,000+ Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support Software
- Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10
Detail oriented
Reviewed on 7/2/2019
Pros
The details provided when building an estimate is immeasurable
Cons
Training is needed when doing speciality estimates
- Industry: Architecture & Planning
- Company size: 1,001-5,000 Employees
- Used Monthly for 2+ years
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support Software
- Likelihood to recommend 10.0 /10
RSMeans Rates library
Reviewed on 6/16/2019
More accurate basic element pricing, from product source locations, this eliminates the need to get quotes from a local distributor, which take a long time, it also assists us in negotiating with local distributors, as we have a confirmed base price for various items at the source (EX WORKS)
Pros
Major list of basic construction items, which assist with having a basis for pricing, at least for a base cost, because we are in a different geographical location, where most products are sourced from the US.
Cons
Limitations in the product description in some occasions can cause some confusion, not all products are created equal, but it is understood that naming items will have to expand the list to millions of items, causing major capital expenditure and price increases to service offerings
- Industry: Construction
- Company size: 11-50 Employees
- Used Weekly for 1+ year
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Review Source
Overall rating
- Value for Money
- Ease of Use
- Customer Support Software
- Likelihood to recommend 8.0 /10
Very User Friendly
Reviewed on 9/23/2021
RSMeans Data Online has been very easy to use and has helped me out on several estimating projects.
Pros
The software is very easy to use and the export function is excellent. The new WBS is also very useful for breaking up your estimates.
Cons
There are not many cons of this product as it is very user-friendly and very straightforward.
Response from Gordian
Hi Jay - Thank you for taking the time to submit your feedback. We are glad to hear you are taking advantage of the export and WBS functions.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our customer support team!