Remodeling Software

-First off, let me say that I love technology, computers, gadgets and software. I use software whenever possible to make my life more efficient. That said, the quick answer is that in, my opinion, specialized remodeling software is not necessary to be a successful home remodeler.

-Perhaps remodeling professionals could benefit from estimating software, but the ones that I've known haven't used it or needed it.

-The only software that I've used when doing my building or remodeling has been Quicken. (I've also heard of Microsoft Money being used similarly.) This is financial software that I've used to keep track of my remodeling related finances. This is especially helpful at the end of the remodeling project. Why? Because this software helps you to categorize your expenses and allows you to figure out how much you've spent in a particular area at the end of the project.

-Also, Quicken can help you with budgeting. When I used it, I didn't avail myself of the budgeting feature, although I wish I had. Instead, I referred to it when I wanted to know how much I spent in a particular remodeling subcategory, such as painting or framing.

-In my humble opinion, remodeling is tricky and hard enough without adding more complexity. To me, remodeling software besides Quicken would just be one more thing that I had to learn and deal with. Of course, your mileage may vary. If you find some good remodeling software, I'd love to hear about it.