Switched to digital takeoffs last month after a $12,000 mistake

I used to do all my material takeoffs by hand on paper plans. Been doing it for 15 years. Last month I bid a commercial job in Phoenix and my handwritten count was off by 200 sheets of drywall. Cost me $12,000 out of pocket when the supplier shorted me and I had to expedite. Now I use Bluebeam for everything. It took me 2 days to learn. My bids are tighter and I catch errors before I submit. Has anyone else had a costly screwup that finally forced them to go digital?

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walker.andrew2mo ago

Lost my shirt on a hotel job up in Flagstaff a couple years back. Had a buddy checking my takeoffs and he missed all the soffits and chases. Ended up ordering three extra pallets of 5/8 and had to eat the restocking fee plus freight back. Still stings when I drive past that building.

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